NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 4 New Articles Added 11/6/06

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Sep. 24, 2006, 11:03 PM

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Engel: Week 3 wrapup

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Here's a quick-hitting recap of key performances and news from the second week of the NFL season, complete with in-depth fantasy analysis.
Reality for Rex Grossman owners: The bottom line for Rex Grossman and the Bears is that they are now 3-0, and the quarterback threw a key touchdown pass right after the two-minute warning to win the game. But for fantasy owners, there should now be a clear difference between what Grossman can do for the Bears, and what he can do for fantasy teams. A healthy Grossman can certainly lead the Bears to many wins, but he is not going to post great numbers too often. Even coming off his four-TD performance in the second game, it's clear Grossman is no fantasy superstar. He's a good reserve who is worth starting when the matchup is right. In the first two games, Grossman faced defenses which have been very vulnerable in the secondary so far this season, and Chicago's first two opponents clearly did not game plan with Grossman as a major threat in mind. The Vikings came out much more wary of Grossman Sunday, and pressured him often. Grossman threw a pair of interceptions and also made other some questionable throws at times that could have been picked off. Based on one game last week, Grossman was indeed not the next coming of Brett Favre as advertised by some Bears backers. But for fantasy purposes, he isn't terrible, either, and keep him on your roster as a top backup for a better, more established fantasy starter.
Steve Smith returns: If you didn't start Steve Smith this week because you were still worried about his hamstring, don't beat yourself up over it. Just be glad Smith played much better than expected, and now you can be confident starting him going forward, instead of worrying about his status as you may have done for the past three weeks. Smith made an instant impact in his return to Carolina's lineup, catching seven balls for 112 yards when it was thought he might not even play, and if he did, there were major concerns that his effectiveness and production would be limited. But Smith showed that taking off the first two weeks and getting more rest was a great idea for him, even though it may have hurt some fantasy teams in the process. It might be hard to trade Smith right now, because some other fantasy owners will still worry about the recurrence of his hamstring problems. You likely won't be able to sell high on him and might not get proper value in return. So be happy he played well this week, and look forward to using him more for fine production in the near future. If Smith explodes next week against New Orleans, he'll have two fine performances to show, and you'll have the luxury of dealing him away if his health still concerns you, or keeping him for more excellent totals. But you can worry about that next week. Smile and get ready to plug him in for your fourth fantasy game.
Very impressive Portis: Steve Smith wasn't the only prominent fantasy player who eased some health concerns on Sunday. Clinton Portis flashed his best form in his first start of the season, totaling 164 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice as the Redskins stomped the defenseless Texans. Portis' top highlights included a 74-yard catch-and-run early in the game to set up Washington's first score, and a pretty 30-yard TD run near the end of the first half on a draw play. Yes, you do have to consider the opponent, as Houston does have an awful defense. But Portis at least temporarily shed any major doubts about his shoulder problem, and he should at least be a solid starter against better opponents in the near future. How Portis fares next week against Jacksonville could go a long way towards telling how he might perform for the rest of the season if he has no further setbacks. The obvious handcuff, if you can add or deal for him, is Ladell Betts, who rushed for 124 yards and was given the opportunity to take in Washington's first score, a nine-yard run. Betts is a great reserve who padded his numbers well in a blowout.
Little big man: Third on our list of tough guys who overcame health issues to shine in the third week is Brian Westbrook. Listed at only 5-8, 203 pounds, Westbrook has been a source of fantasy concern for several weeks, especially the past two. Yet for the second consecutive game, Westbrook not only played through his knee issues, he played much better than expected. In many cases, it's best to avoid using a player with injury issues, even it appears he might start. I always recommend going with the healthy player over the guy with injury problems. Well, it's clear when Westbrook plays, even if he is not 100 percent, he's a must-start player. He totaled 164 yards and scored three times on just 12 touches at San Francisco. No one in the NFL makes the most of every touch of the ball like Westbrook. His classic speed and explosiveness were on display Sunday (especially on a 71-yard TD run) despite all the worries about his knee. We learned a lesson today. Until Brian Westbrook is listed as out for sure, you don't bench him.
Another big little guy: Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew is listed at only 5-7, 212 pounds, yet he had a breakthrough game in a loss at Indianapolis Sunday. Jones-Drew averaged nearly eight yards per carry and finished with 135 yards from scrimmage. He also scored on a seven-yard TD reception. Fred Taylor can possibly be kept healthy for longer periods with Jones-Drew giving him some breathers. The rookie presents a unique change of pace to Taylor, with speed, the ability to elude defenders when he gets the ball in space, and his willingness to take some big hits. Jones-Drew will likely never be a full-time ball carrier, even if Taylor gets hurt at some point. But he can be a fine flex player who can often make the most of very opportunity to touch the ball, much like Westbrook. Jones-Drew might never be a top fantasy RB like Westbrook, but he can be another small RB who can survive, and sometimes flourish because of his unique skills.
Daunte doesn't look good: Yes, he led the Dolphins to their first win of the season. But Daunte Culpepper demonstrated that fantasy players can't depend on him, until further notice. Culpepper was sacked five times, threw no TD passes and suffered from the same problems he did in the first two games. He didn't get enough protection, his receivers didn't get open consistently, and Culpepper continued to throw some ugly-looking passes. The Dolphins barely edged the inept Titans at home. Culpepper did score on a five-yard run, but he threw for only 168 yards and finished with just five rushing yards on seven carries. Because Culpepper struggled against a team that looked so bad defensively in the first two games, it's clear he shouldn't be used as a fantasy starter again until he suddenly busts out with a much better performance, if that ever happens. Don't cut Culpepper, but don't consider starting him until your other QB has a bye week.
Palmer back on top: When you can post fine numbers against the very best defenses, you're a bona fide fantasy superstar who should never be benched. Carson Palmer was that type of QB before his knee injury in last year's playoffs, and he has fully returned to that form. Palmer lost a fumble, was intercepted twice and sacked six times, yet he overcame adversity to throw four touchdown passes and led the Bengals to an emotional win at Pittsburgh. Palmer was highly admirable in victory, and while the turnovers did hurt his overall fantasy production a bit, it's clear that Palmer has secured his lofty place again among the very elite QBs in fantasy football. Only Peyton Manning might be more dependable for regularly excellent production, and if Palmer keeps playing well, he could arguably rival Manning again as the best QB in fantasy football.
Bad, bad Ben: Willie Parker bounced back from his forgettable second week performance in a shutout loss to the Jaguars, but his quarterback Ben Roethlisberger kept his awful play going against the Bengals. Roethlisberger looked even worse at times on Sunday than he did last Monday night, as it was more than just his health dragging him down against Cincinnati. While his throws looked better at times and he occasionally looked more confident rolling out of the pocket, Roethlisberger's decisions, especially under pressure, were downright difficult to watch. Roethlisberger completed only 18 of 39 attempts, and was intercepted three times. Hines Ward caught only two passes for 17 yards, and none of his receiving partners challenged Cincinnati very much. A questionable pass-catching corps, combined with Roethlisberger's recent health issues and befuddling game management, make him a must-sit player until he shows signs of improving.
Erratic Eli?: It appeared Eli Manning was headed for the worst game of his young career at halftime of Sunday's game at Seattle. He had no TD passes, three interceptions, and his team trailed by 32 points. But in the fourth quarter, Manning not only regained a minor measure of respect by throwing for three TD passes, he also saved the fortunes of many fantasy teams in his obviously futile effort to make the final score look less ugly. When Manning has to play from behind, he certainly can be statistically prolific. When the Giants win, Manning will often be at the front of the charge. There's no question New York was embarrassed on Sunday, even if the final score didn't look as bad as the Giants played for much of the game. But Manning, who did finish with 275 passing yards, showed he can deliver pretty good numbers, win or lose. He'll make the big throws when the Giants win, and he'll pad his numbers nicely when they play catch-up. Sizzling Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck quieted most concerns about his sluggish start by throwing five TD passes against the Giants. Hasselbeck did throw an ill-timed pass under pressure that was intercepted and returned for a fourth-quarter score, but for the most part, he got great pass protection and made terrific reads and accurate throws downfield during the game's most important quarters, the first two. The addition of Deion Branch certainly made the Seattle passing game more dangerous and balanced than ever. Branch caught only two passes for 23 yards, but the Giants simply couldn't account for all of Seattle's receiving weapons, as three different wide receivers caught scoring passes. Darrell Jackson remained Hasselbeck's preferred target, as he caught two TD passes. The amazing receiving depth in Seattle makes Hasselbeck hard to bench in any situation going forward, even against Chicago next week. Shaun Alexander was a disappointment again, with just 47 rushing yards on 20 carries, but the passing game did set him up for a two-yard scoring run. He did get a lot of rest in the second half, as he entered the game with concerns about a sore foot. Seattle's offensive line dominated New York's formidable front four for much of the day, though, and won't be intimidated by the Bears. Expect at least respectable fantasy totals from Alexander next week.
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Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Sep. 24, 2006, 11:03 PM

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Engel: Week 3 wrapup

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Here's a quick-hitting recap of key performances and news from the second week of the NFL season, complete with in-depth fantasy analysis.
Reality for Rex Grossman owners: The bottom line for Rex Grossman and the Bears is that they are now 3-0, and the quarterback threw a key touchdown pass right after the two-minute warning to win the game. But for fantasy owners, there should now be a clear difference between what Grossman can do for the Bears, and what he can do for fantasy teams. A healthy Grossman can certainly lead the Bears to many wins, but he is not going to post great numbers too often. Even coming off his four-TD performance in the second game, it's clear Grossman is no fantasy superstar. He's a good reserve who is worth starting when the matchup is right. In the first two games, Grossman faced defenses which have been very vulnerable in the secondary so far this season, and Chicago's first two opponents clearly did not game plan with Grossman as a major threat in mind. The Vikings came out much more wary of Grossman Sunday, and pressured him often. Grossman threw a pair of interceptions and also made other some questionable throws at times that could have been picked off. Based on one game last week, Grossman was indeed not the next coming of Brett Favre as advertised by some Bears backers. But for fantasy purposes, he isn't terrible, either, and keep him on your roster as a top backup for a better, more established fantasy starter.
Steve Smith returns: If you didn't start Steve Smith this week because you were still worried about his hamstring, don't beat yourself up over it. Just be glad Smith played much better than expected, and now you can be confident starting him going forward, instead of worrying about his status as you may have done for the past three weeks. Smith made an instant impact in his return to Carolina's lineup, catching seven balls for 112 yards when it was thought he might not even play, and if he did, there were major concerns that his effectiveness and production would be limited. But Smith showed that taking off the first two weeks and getting more rest was a great idea for him, even though it may have hurt some fantasy teams in the process. It might be hard to trade Smith right now, because some other fantasy owners will still worry about the recurrence of his hamstring problems. You likely won't be able to sell high on him and might not get proper value in return. So be happy he played well this week, and look forward to using him more for fine production in the near future. If Smith explodes next week against New Orleans, he'll have two fine performances to show, and you'll have the luxury of dealing him away if his health still concerns you, or keeping him for more excellent totals. But you can worry about that next week. Smile and get ready to plug him in for your fourth fantasy game.
Very impressive Portis: Steve Smith wasn't the only prominent fantasy player who eased some health concerns on Sunday. Clinton Portis flashed his best form in his first start of the season, totaling 164 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice as the Redskins stomped the defenseless Texans. Portis' top highlights included a 74-yard catch-and-run early in the game to set up Washington's first score, and a pretty 30-yard TD run near the end of the first half on a draw play. Yes, you do have to consider the opponent, as Houston does have an awful defense. But Portis at least temporarily shed any major doubts about his shoulder problem, and he should at least be a solid starter against better opponents in the near future. How Portis fares next week against Jacksonville could go a long way towards telling how he might perform for the rest of the season if he has no further setbacks. The obvious handcuff, if you can add or deal for him, is Ladell Betts, who rushed for 124 yards and was given the opportunity to take in Washington's first score, a nine-yard run. Betts is a great reserve who padded his numbers well in a blowout.
Little big man: Third on our list of tough guys who overcame health issues to shine in the third week is Brian Westbrook. Listed at only 5-8, 203 pounds, Westbrook has been a source of fantasy concern for several weeks, especially the past two. Yet for the second consecutive game, Westbrook not only played through his knee issues, he played much better than expected. In many cases, it's best to avoid using a player with injury issues, even it appears he might start. I always recommend going with the healthy player over the guy with injury problems. Well, it's clear when Westbrook plays, even if he is not 100 percent, he's a must-start player. He totaled 164 yards and scored three times on just 12 touches at San Francisco. No one in the NFL makes the most of every touch of the ball like Westbrook. His classic speed and explosiveness were on display Sunday (especially on a 71-yard TD run) despite all the worries about his knee. We learned a lesson today. Until Brian Westbrook is listed as out for sure, you don't bench him.
Another big little guy: Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew is listed at only 5-7, 212 pounds, yet he had a breakthrough game in a loss at Indianapolis Sunday. Jones-Drew averaged nearly eight yards per carry and finished with 135 yards from scrimmage. He also scored on a seven-yard TD reception. Fred Taylor can possibly be kept healthy for longer periods with Jones-Drew giving him some breathers. The rookie presents a unique change of pace to Taylor, with speed, the ability to elude defenders when he gets the ball in space, and his willingness to take some big hits. Jones-Drew will likely never be a full-time ball carrier, even if Taylor gets hurt at some point. But he can be a fine flex player who can often make the most of very opportunity to touch the ball, much like Westbrook. Jones-Drew might never be a top fantasy RB like Westbrook, but he can be another small RB who can survive, and sometimes flourish because of his unique skills.
Daunte doesn't look good: Yes, he led the Dolphins to their first win of the season. But Daunte Culpepper demonstrated that fantasy players can't depend on him, until further notice. Culpepper was sacked five times, threw no TD passes and suffered from the same problems he did in the first two games. He didn't get enough protection, his receivers didn't get open consistently, and Culpepper continued to throw some ugly-looking passes. The Dolphins barely edged the inept Titans at home. Culpepper did score on a five-yard run, but he threw for only 168 yards and finished with just five rushing yards on seven carries. Because Culpepper struggled against a team that looked so bad defensively in the first two games, it's clear he shouldn't be used as a fantasy starter again until he suddenly busts out with a much better performance, if that ever happens. Don't cut Culpepper, but don't consider starting him until your other QB has a bye week.
Palmer back on top: When you can post fine numbers against the very best defenses, you're a bona fide fantasy superstar who should never be benched. Carson Palmer was that type of QB before his knee injury in last year's playoffs, and he has fully returned to that form. Palmer lost a fumble, was intercepted twice and sacked six times, yet he overcame adversity to throw four touchdown passes and led the Bengals to an emotional win at Pittsburgh. Palmer was highly admirable in victory, and while the turnovers did hurt his overall fantasy production a bit, it's clear that Palmer has secured his lofty place again among the very elite QBs in fantasy football. Only Peyton Manning might be more dependable for regularly excellent production, and if Palmer keeps playing well, he could arguably rival Manning again as the best QB in fantasy football.
Bad, bad Ben: Willie Parker bounced back from his forgettable second week performance in a shutout loss to the Jaguars, but his quarterback Ben Roethlisberger kept his awful play going against the Bengals. Roethlisberger looked even worse at times on Sunday than he did last Monday night, as it was more than just his health dragging him down against Cincinnati. While his throws looked better at times and he occasionally looked more confident rolling out of the pocket, Roethlisberger's decisions, especially under pressure, were downright difficult to watch. Roethlisberger completed only 18 of 39 attempts, and was intercepted three times. Hines Ward caught only two passes for 17 yards, and none of his receiving partners challenged Cincinnati very much. A questionable pass-catching corps, combined with Roethlisberger's recent health issues and befuddling game management, make him a must-sit player until he shows signs of improving.
Erratic Eli?: It appeared Eli Manning was headed for the worst game of his young career at halftime of Sunday's game at Seattle. He had no TD passes, three interceptions, and his team trailed by 32 points. But in the fourth quarter, Manning not only regained a minor measure of respect by throwing for three TD passes, he also saved the fortunes of many fantasy teams in his obviously futile effort to make the final score look less ugly. When Manning has to play from behind, he certainly can be statistically prolific. When the Giants win, Manning will often be at the front of the charge. There's no question New York was embarrassed on Sunday, even if the final score didn't look as bad as the Giants played for much of the game. But Manning, who did finish with 275 passing yards, showed he can deliver pretty good numbers, win or lose. He'll make the big throws when the Giants win, and he'll pad his numbers nicely when they play catch-up. Sizzling Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck quieted most concerns about his sluggish start by throwing five TD passes against the Giants. Hasselbeck did throw an ill-timed pass under pressure that was intercepted and returned for a fourth-quarter score, but for the most part, he got great pass protection and made terrific reads and accurate throws downfield during the game's most important quarters, the first two. The addition of Deion Branch certainly made the Seattle passing game more dangerous and balanced than ever. Branch caught only two passes for 23 yards, but the Giants simply couldn't account for all of Seattle's receiving weapons, as three different wide receivers caught scoring passes. Darrell Jackson remained Hasselbeck's preferred target, as he caught two TD passes. The amazing receiving depth in Seattle makes Hasselbeck hard to bench in any situation going forward, even against Chicago next week. Shaun Alexander was a disappointment again, with just 47 rushing yards on 20 carries, but the passing game did set him up for a two-yard scoring run. He did get a lot of rest in the second half, as he entered the game with concerns about a sore foot. Seattle's offensive line dominated New York's formidable front four for much of the day, though, and won't be intimidated by the Bears. Expect at least respectable fantasy totals from Alexander next week.
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Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Week 3 wrap

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

First of all, before we begin, let's separate fantasy from reality for a minute and wish a speedy recovery for Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms. Nothing said or written about Simms in the past few weeks in this space or anywhere in fantasy is at all relevant today, the day after Simms had emergency surgery on a ruptured spleen. How he managed to play at all on Sunday after he suffered the injury is amazing.

Anyway, I'll wait a day or two to discuss potential new starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and Carnell Williams and well, how it affects the team. Luckily, the Bucs get a bye this week.
***
Honestly, I had no idea Donte' Stallworth was going to be rendered inactive on Sunday. Hadn't a clue. We spent all week talking about the myriad injured, questionable fellas, and then about an hour before the Eagles and 49ers are ready to play, it's announced Stallworth is out. Who knew? I had read the Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday morning, watched the requisite Eagles pregame shows, there was no sign of this. He was listed as probable. Ninety minutes before the Panthers played we thought Steve Smith was out. He played!
Anyway for all the good from Sunday, the surprise but good-play quarterbacks going off in the Packers-Lions game, a pair of Redskins running backs loving life and John Kasay nailing one long field goal after another, I checked out some message boards and saw Stallworth owners venting angry words.
Just can't make fantasy football owners happy, no matter what!
What a great Sunday it was in fantasy football. We saw Rex Grossman shut down for much of the game, then lead the Bears back for the win. Now do we believe? Well, kind of. Carson Palmer was great, Byron Leftwich bad and Mark Brunell nearly perfect. Ahman Green scored. Kevan Barlow scored! Two Lions running backs scored!! Oh my!
Let's go game by game:
Jets 28, Bills 20: Impressed by Chad Pennington? He didn't have great stats, but he led his team to the win, despite the fact the Bills had more than 200 more total yards than New York. Really, Jets fans, the win is more important. But I'd stick with Pennington as a fantasy backup, not a clear cut starter. Laveranues Coles delivered a 10-catch performance, impressive since he wasn't a definite to play. Jerricho Cotchery only caught three passes.
Barlow managed to find the end zone, but not much else. Late in the game Cedric Houston got the chance from the five yard line, and scored. Is this a timeshare? Probably not. Barlow was banged up, which he'll probably always be. The Jets just aren't much of a rushing team. Barlow remains not worth the trouble in fantasy, though he must be owned.
J.P. Losman topped 300 yards passing, but he was playing from behind the entire second half, so it's hard to get too caught up in it. Losman did find Roscoe Parrish on a long touchdown pass, and he ran in another score late in the game, but Buffalo's problem remains scoring actual points, not moving the ball. Willis McGahee had a monster rushing game, but those 150 yards on the ground are hollow without a score. I recommended Lee Evans as a play, and he did top 100 yards receiving. This team could get dangerous for fantasy if they could finish drives. As it is, McGahee is on his way to a solid yards season.
Packers 31, Lions 24: This game went pretty much as expected, with defense not much of a priority, and both quarterbacks piling up the numbers. I picked the Packers to win 30-20 and Brett Favre to get three touchdowns, which he did. Not bad at all!
But who could have expected both Ahman Green and Kevin Jones to play well? Other than Green's out-of-place 100-yard effort against the Bears in Week 1, these guys collectively had done little. But Green scored on a reception and made his mark that way, while Jones was very active, topping 120 total yards and scoring a rushing touchdown. What does that mean for future weeks? I wouldn't make Green nor Jones definite plays too often.
Good to see Roy Williams back up his bravado with a big game. Greg Jennings is a guy we've been talking about for weeks, and his 75-yard score will make him owned in a lot more leagues this week, but it will not diminish Donald Driver. Big game next week for Favre and the crew in Philly on Monday night. Important game to gauge this offense.
Colts 21, Jaguars 14: Last year's matchup in Indy went kind of like this, with neither team able to move the ball much. It was the game in Florida that the touchdowns were scored. Peyton Manning did score twice Sunday, though one was on a run. Peyton Manning running the ball? Years ago he used to, fantasy owners counted on it. Manning scored four rushing touchdowns in 2001, and had nine in his first five seasons, but none in the last three. Maybe he's bringing this part of his game back. He might need to, because the Colts running game remains a disappointment. I had this game 24-21 Colts.
Two stories from the Jacksonville side, if you will. One, Byron Leftwich didn't do much, though he did manage to score a rushing touchdown. Very odd. Through the air, however, he was not impressive a bit. Second, the Jags run game looked good, thanks to rookie Maurice Jones-Drew breaking off a few big ones and topping 100 yards. Even Fred Taylor had a presentable game. Don't be shocked if Taylor shares the carries going forward. At the least the Jags can use the excuse they want to keep Taylor healthy, knowing full well they have two weapons.
Dolphins 13, Titans 10: You can officially leave Daunte Culpepper on your bench now until further notice. Well, except for next week when he gets to play an even worse defense.
I didn't expect a tremendous game, but 168 yards is pathetic. But like a number of other passers, he wasn't a total bust because he ran for a touchdown. Don't get the idea Culpepper ran well, though. He did not. Long term this season his value isn't good.
What else here? Chris Brown didn't play, giving Travis Henry a chance to show his stuff. He got plenty of carries, but delivered little. Meanwhile, Kerry Collins probably earned another start next week against Dallas, not that it matters much in fantasy. The Titans stayed in this game, probably because Miami is way overrated, but offer little to fantasy owners.
Just like Culpepper.
Bears 19, Vikings 16: Yes, I was impressed by both teams, really. I watched much of this one closely, and the Vikings could've had this one. I felt better about my pick of Vikings 16, Bears 13. Thought it would end 16-12 until late, when Grossman showed something. Don't blame Brad Johnson or Chester Taylor. Both did fine, though they couldn't score. Ultimately it was Grossman who gave up the go-ahead touchdown, Minnesota's only one, on a horrible interception, but he led them back with a two key fourth quarter drives. I still wouldn't assume he's a must fantasy start, but he's in the top half of quarterbacks. Well, he's right around the midpoint.
No carries for Cedric Benson? What do Bears fans care, they're 3-0. Thomas Jones now has three average games. I think he'll take it. We won't.
Bengals 28, Steelers 20: I pegged this one for Carson Palmer as well, but four touchdowns is a lot to ask for. My point was that Palmer is a weekly play no matter the opponent. In fact, I named five quarterbacks as automatic plays: Both Mannings (um, more on Eli later), Palmer, Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady. This does answer the question about Cincy being able to score on the Steelers, as if it wasn't answered last season when Palmer scored 38 on them in their house.
Anyway, this also answers the question about Willie Parker. Last Monday against Jacksonville was just one of those nights.
Chris Henry and T.J. Houshmandzadeh? Sure, why can't three Bengals receivers be like Peyton's Colts trio was two seasons ago? The question is, is Chad Johnson the team's Brandon Stokley? Both Housh and Henry scored twice this game. More to come for this duo.
Panthers 26, Buccaneers 24: Each team showed how badly it needed the game, to avoid falling to 0-3. But who should we praise for fantasy football? I would never have given up on Jake Delhomme. He looked fine now that he's got Steve Smith back. Keyshawn Johnson was a bigger beneficiary, scoring twice, including the second rushing touchdown of his career.
Did you play Smith? On Sunday morning Chris Mortensen said that Smith was unlikely to play, and I wrote that avoiding Smith was a good idea in fantasy, assuming you had reasonable options. But as the 1 o'clock game time approached, I even changed my mind and went back to activate Smith over Rod Smith in one league. Steve Smith topped 100 yards and while he didn't score, it was impressive nonetheless and showed how much better it makes his teammates. Who expected 112 yards? I just didn't want my second round pick on the bench in case he did something, especially when reports changed that Smith would start.
Well, look what it did for Delhomme and Keyshawn. DeShaun Foster ran hard for 82 yards as well. DeAngelo Williams again looked great on returns, but he didn't get the carries. I named him as a sit based on what coach John Fox said, that he would stick with Foster.
Carnell Williams really didn't run well, and I don't know if it was because of his back problem or the Carolina defense. But those who played him did get a touchdown. I'd still aim to avoid playing him until we see a big rushing game. And the three-game stretch for Joey Galloway is a bit hard to believe. Zero catches, then nine for 161, and one catch here. At least it was a touchdown. Even with this new situation in Tampa, he remains a worthy play.
Redskins 31, Texans 15: Did I underestimate the Redskins, or overestimate the Texans? I think it's Houston's defense. How else does one explain Mark Brunell breaking the NFL record for consecutive completions? Brunell looked terrible the last few weeks. Mark Brunell is now the all-time record holder for consecutive completions! Say it again! Yeah, he was a decent play here, but let's not get too excited for the rest of the schedule.
No, I still won't make Brunell a top 10 fantasy quarterback next week. If Daunte Culpepper has a big day against the dreadful Texans next Sunday then it will tell us just how bad bad Houston is defensively. I still take Grossman and Pennington over Brunell in normal matchups.
Clinton Portis told us early in the week he'd play, which he did. And I was all over this matchup, though I have the guy in only one league. I thought he'd have a big day, start fast and Washington would get a lead and likely sit him. All of it happened. Early on Portis was even better than expected, as he caught a 74-yarder and he got his two touchdowns on the ground. He looked great. Terrific. Glad you stuck with him? Don't be concerned about Ladell Betts running for more yards. It was 31-7, 10 seconds into the final period. Why use Portis up by that much?
Again David Carr has an impressive day statistically, and again I say it's simply because his team was trailing by so much, he got to throw against nickel defenses. But fantasy owners can also take advantage of this. The Texans might have 10 more games like this! Without a running game, and a defense to keep games close, Carr will have problems winning, but not necessarily putting up numbers. Ron Dayne got nearly all the carries. Sam Gado got one. Not sure it matters much who gets the carries next week.
Rams 16, Cardinals 14: I expected each team to score much more than this, so why didn't it happen? Well, these teams just aren't very good, and the six turnovers help prove it. It's why neither of these teams is likely to win half its games, and Seattle will be sitting Shaun Alexander the final two weeks with the division clinched.
Torry Holt, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald all did their thing. Marc Bulger and Kurt Warner didn't throw nearly as much as I figured. Ultimately, Bulger didn't throw a pick, and Warner's last-minute fumble cost Arizona the game.
Final thought is about the running backs. Steven Jackson should have done better. It was a nice matchup for him. And Edgerrin James nearly reached 100 yards, and scored. Is he going to catch the ball more this season? Tough to tell which direction his statistical season is going to do, but I'd still say if he finishes in the top 10 of running backs, it's barely.
Eagles 38, 49ers 24: Impressive offensive performance in the first half by Philly, which aired it out on the first play with a flea flicker. Even without Stallworth, Donovan McNabb was terrific, using seven different receivers. Backup tight end Matt Schobel was uncovered on a fourth quarter play and broke a 60-yarder. Reggie Brown finally got some love, topping 100 yards. And Brian Westbrook is a very, very underrated player.
Why didn't I rank Westbrook in my top 12 overall? Can't see him playing more than 13 or 14 games. He's going to dial it back in practice each week, as Philly aims to keep him healthy. If I thought he wouldn't get hurt, he'd be close to a top five back. His 117 yards rushing is a bit of an aberration, thanks to the 71-yard rumble. But look, how can any Westbrook owner complain. He easily could have missed the game.
Alex Smith impressed me. I watched as Philly's pass rush made things hard for him in the second half, and he not only got up, but made decent decisions. He wasn't picked off. The fumbles would have happened to anyone, the way he was trounced.
Seahawks 42, Giants 30: Deceiving game statistically. Face it, Eli Manning looked awful early on, worse than he did in the Philly game a week before. And this time Eli's big comeback effort wasn't enough. Eli was just that bad, falling behind 42-3. Ugh. Was I wrong about Eli? Giants fans sure think so. While he ended up with decent stats, they are misleading, and we all know it. Hey, just like the Philly game was just one game, so was this. Manning must learn consistency. Even after the Philly comeback I knew that, but figured he'd stop with these miserable performances. Guess not. Still, I'm playing him. You want to say I misread Eli, go ahead, but you know he could easily turn into a top five statistical fantasy quarterback. Is he there yet? Put it this way, after three weeks, Eli has numbers. It's just disconcerting to Giants fans how he's gotten them.
What I take from this game, other than how bad Eli and the Giants were, allowing Matt Hasselbeck to throw five touchdown passes, is that Shaun Alexander just doesn't look the same. He scored his touchdown just a few minutes into the game, then sleepwalked through the rest, getting two yards per carry. Is he hurt? Is it the line? Teams keying on the run and letting Hasselbeck and talented receivers beat them? I don't know, but Alexander has plenty of time to earn top three status.
Deion Branch played, but really, what can one learn in a game like this?
Ravens 15, Browns 14: This proves that the Ravens offense isn't nearly as good as it looked the first two weeks. Maybe it never was that good. Steve McNair has weapons, so I'm not sure I understand this. Jamal Lewis had another favorable result, with 86 yards. Derrick Mason isn't aging. Mark Clayton played the possession receiver role well. And Todd Heap, suddenly questionable over the weekend with an ankle sprain, scored Baltimore's touchdown. So why couldn't the Ravens score more against Cleveland? And really, how did Cleveland score two touchdowns, especially without a running game. Reuben Droughns surprisingly didn't play, leaving behind a mess. Charlie Frye didn't get the win, but performed well. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow remain interesting fantasy options. If they can get more than 200 receiving yards against the Ravens, they'll have better days.

Hache Man · Sep 25, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 3New Articles Added 9/22/06)

Week 3 wrap

posted: Monday, September 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

First of all, before we begin, let's separate fantasy from reality for a minute and wish a speedy recovery for Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms. Nothing said or written about Simms in the past few weeks in this space or anywhere in fantasy is at all relevant today, the day after Simms had emergency surgery on a ruptured spleen. How he managed to play at all on Sunday after he suffered the injury is amazing.

Anyway, I'll wait a day or two to discuss potential new starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski and Carnell Williams and well, how it affects the team. Luckily, the Bucs get a bye this week.
***
Honestly, I had no idea Donte' Stallworth was going to be rendered inactive on Sunday. Hadn't a clue. We spent all week talking about the myriad injured, questionable fellas, and then about an hour before the Eagles and 49ers are ready to play, it's announced Stallworth is out. Who knew? I had read the Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday morning, watched the requisite Eagles pregame shows, there was no sign of this. He was listed as probable. Ninety minutes before the Panthers played we thought Steve Smith was out. He played!
Anyway for all the good from Sunday, the surprise but good-play quarterbacks going off in the Packers-Lions game, a pair of Redskins running backs loving life and John Kasay nailing one long field goal after another, I checked out some message boards and saw Stallworth owners venting angry words.
Just can't make fantasy football owners happy, no matter what!
What a great Sunday it was in fantasy football. We saw Rex Grossman shut down for much of the game, then lead the Bears back for the win. Now do we believe? Well, kind of. Carson Palmer was great, Byron Leftwich bad and Mark Brunell nearly perfect. Ahman Green scored. Kevan Barlow scored! Two Lions running backs scored!! Oh my!
Let's go game by game:
Jets 28, Bills 20: Impressed by Chad Pennington? He didn't have great stats, but he led his team to the win, despite the fact the Bills had more than 200 more total yards than New York. Really, Jets fans, the win is more important. But I'd stick with Pennington as a fantasy backup, not a clear cut starter. Laveranues Coles delivered a 10-catch performance, impressive since he wasn't a definite to play. Jerricho Cotchery only caught three passes.
Barlow managed to find the end zone, but not much else. Late in the game Cedric Houston got the chance from the five yard line, and scored. Is this a timeshare? Probably not. Barlow was banged up, which he'll probably always be. The Jets just aren't much of a rushing team. Barlow remains not worth the trouble in fantasy, though he must be owned.
J.P. Losman topped 300 yards passing, but he was playing from behind the entire second half, so it's hard to get too caught up in it. Losman did find Roscoe Parrish on a long touchdown pass, and he ran in another score late in the game, but Buffalo's problem remains scoring actual points, not moving the ball. Willis McGahee had a monster rushing game, but those 150 yards on the ground are hollow without a score. I recommended Lee Evans as a play, and he did top 100 yards receiving. This team could get dangerous for fantasy if they could finish drives. As it is, McGahee is on his way to a solid yards season.
Packers 31, Lions 24: This game went pretty much as expected, with defense not much of a priority, and both quarterbacks piling up the numbers. I picked the Packers to win 30-20 and Brett Favre to get three touchdowns, which he did. Not bad at all!
But who could have expected both Ahman Green and Kevin Jones to play well? Other than Green's out-of-place 100-yard effort against the Bears in Week 1, these guys collectively had done little. But Green scored on a reception and made his mark that way, while Jones was very active, topping 120 total yards and scoring a rushing touchdown. What does that mean for future weeks? I wouldn't make Green nor Jones definite plays too often.
Good to see Roy Williams back up his bravado with a big game. Greg Jennings is a guy we've been talking about for weeks, and his 75-yard score will make him owned in a lot more leagues this week, but it will not diminish Donald Driver. Big game next week for Favre and the crew in Philly on Monday night. Important game to gauge this offense.
Colts 21, Jaguars 14: Last year's matchup in Indy went kind of like this, with neither team able to move the ball much. It was the game in Florida that the touchdowns were scored. Peyton Manning did score twice Sunday, though one was on a run. Peyton Manning running the ball? Years ago he used to, fantasy owners counted on it. Manning scored four rushing touchdowns in 2001, and had nine in his first five seasons, but none in the last three. Maybe he's bringing this part of his game back. He might need to, because the Colts running game remains a disappointment. I had this game 24-21 Colts.
Two stories from the Jacksonville side, if you will. One, Byron Leftwich didn't do much, though he did manage to score a rushing touchdown. Very odd. Through the air, however, he was not impressive a bit. Second, the Jags run game looked good, thanks to rookie Maurice Jones-Drew breaking off a few big ones and topping 100 yards. Even Fred Taylor had a presentable game. Don't be shocked if Taylor shares the carries going forward. At the least the Jags can use the excuse they want to keep Taylor healthy, knowing full well they have two weapons.
Dolphins 13, Titans 10: You can officially leave Daunte Culpepper on your bench now until further notice. Well, except for next week when he gets to play an even worse defense.
I didn't expect a tremendous game, but 168 yards is pathetic. But like a number of other passers, he wasn't a total bust because he ran for a touchdown. Don't get the idea Culpepper ran well, though. He did not. Long term this season his value isn't good.
What else here? Chris Brown didn't play, giving Travis Henry a chance to show his stuff. He got plenty of carries, but delivered little. Meanwhile, Kerry Collins probably earned another start next week against Dallas, not that it matters much in fantasy. The Titans stayed in this game, probably because Miami is way overrated, but offer little to fantasy owners.
Just like Culpepper.
Bears 19, Vikings 16: Yes, I was impressed by both teams, really. I watched much of this one closely, and the Vikings could've had this one. I felt better about my pick of Vikings 16, Bears 13. Thought it would end 16-12 until late, when Grossman showed something. Don't blame Brad Johnson or Chester Taylor. Both did fine, though they couldn't score. Ultimately it was Grossman who gave up the go-ahead touchdown, Minnesota's only one, on a horrible interception, but he led them back with a two key fourth quarter drives. I still wouldn't assume he's a must fantasy start, but he's in the top half of quarterbacks. Well, he's right around the midpoint.
No carries for Cedric Benson? What do Bears fans care, they're 3-0. Thomas Jones now has three average games. I think he'll take it. We won't.
Bengals 28, Steelers 20: I pegged this one for Carson Palmer as well, but four touchdowns is a lot to ask for. My point was that Palmer is a weekly play no matter the opponent. In fact, I named five quarterbacks as automatic plays: Both Mannings (um, more on Eli later), Palmer, Donovan McNabb and Tom Brady. This does answer the question about Cincy being able to score on the Steelers, as if it wasn't answered last season when Palmer scored 38 on them in their house.
Anyway, this also answers the question about Willie Parker. Last Monday against Jacksonville was just one of those nights.
Chris Henry and T.J. Houshmandzadeh? Sure, why can't three Bengals receivers be like Peyton's Colts trio was two seasons ago? The question is, is Chad Johnson the team's Brandon Stokley? Both Housh and Henry scored twice this game. More to come for this duo.
Panthers 26, Buccaneers 24: Each team showed how badly it needed the game, to avoid falling to 0-3. But who should we praise for fantasy football? I would never have given up on Jake Delhomme. He looked fine now that he's got Steve Smith back. Keyshawn Johnson was a bigger beneficiary, scoring twice, including the second rushing touchdown of his career.
Did you play Smith? On Sunday morning Chris Mortensen said that Smith was unlikely to play, and I wrote that avoiding Smith was a good idea in fantasy, assuming you had reasonable options. But as the 1 o'clock game time approached, I even changed my mind and went back to activate Smith over Rod Smith in one league. Steve Smith topped 100 yards and while he didn't score, it was impressive nonetheless and showed how much better it makes his teammates. Who expected 112 yards? I just didn't want my second round pick on the bench in case he did something, especially when reports changed that Smith would start.
Well, look what it did for Delhomme and Keyshawn. DeShaun Foster ran hard for 82 yards as well. DeAngelo Williams again looked great on returns, but he didn't get the carries. I named him as a sit based on what coach John Fox said, that he would stick with Foster.
Carnell Williams really didn't run well, and I don't know if it was because of his back problem or the Carolina defense. But those who played him did get a touchdown. I'd still aim to avoid playing him until we see a big rushing game. And the three-game stretch for Joey Galloway is a bit hard to believe. Zero catches, then nine for 161, and one catch here. At least it was a touchdown. Even with this new situation in Tampa, he remains a worthy play.
Redskins 31, Texans 15: Did I underestimate the Redskins, or overestimate the Texans? I think it's Houston's defense. How else does one explain Mark Brunell breaking the NFL record for consecutive completions? Brunell looked terrible the last few weeks. Mark Brunell is now the all-time record holder for consecutive completions! Say it again! Yeah, he was a decent play here, but let's not get too excited for the rest of the schedule.
No, I still won't make Brunell a top 10 fantasy quarterback next week. If Daunte Culpepper has a big day against the dreadful Texans next Sunday then it will tell us just how bad bad Houston is defensively. I still take Grossman and Pennington over Brunell in normal matchups.
Clinton Portis told us early in the week he'd play, which he did. And I was all over this matchup, though I have the guy in only one league. I thought he'd have a big day, start fast and Washington would get a lead and likely sit him. All of it happened. Early on Portis was even better than expected, as he caught a 74-yarder and he got his two touchdowns on the ground. He looked great. Terrific. Glad you stuck with him? Don't be concerned about Ladell Betts running for more yards. It was 31-7, 10 seconds into the final period. Why use Portis up by that much?
Again David Carr has an impressive day statistically, and again I say it's simply because his team was trailing by so much, he got to throw against nickel defenses. But fantasy owners can also take advantage of this. The Texans might have 10 more games like this! Without a running game, and a defense to keep games close, Carr will have problems winning, but not necessarily putting up numbers. Ron Dayne got nearly all the carries. Sam Gado got one. Not sure it matters much who gets the carries next week.
Rams 16, Cardinals 14: I expected each team to score much more than this, so why didn't it happen? Well, these teams just aren't very good, and the six turnovers help prove it. It's why neither of these teams is likely to win half its games, and Seattle will be sitting Shaun Alexander the final two weeks with the division clinched.
Torry Holt, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald all did their thing. Marc Bulger and Kurt Warner didn't throw nearly as much as I figured. Ultimately, Bulger didn't throw a pick, and Warner's last-minute fumble cost Arizona the game.
Final thought is about the running backs. Steven Jackson should have done better. It was a nice matchup for him. And Edgerrin James nearly reached 100 yards, and scored. Is he going to catch the ball more this season? Tough to tell which direction his statistical season is going to do, but I'd still say if he finishes in the top 10 of running backs, it's barely.
Eagles 38, 49ers 24: Impressive offensive performance in the first half by Philly, which aired it out on the first play with a flea flicker. Even without Stallworth, Donovan McNabb was terrific, using seven different receivers. Backup tight end Matt Schobel was uncovered on a fourth quarter play and broke a 60-yarder. Reggie Brown finally got some love, topping 100 yards. And Brian Westbrook is a very, very underrated player.
Why didn't I rank Westbrook in my top 12 overall? Can't see him playing more than 13 or 14 games. He's going to dial it back in practice each week, as Philly aims to keep him healthy. If I thought he wouldn't get hurt, he'd be close to a top five back. His 117 yards rushing is a bit of an aberration, thanks to the 71-yard rumble. But look, how can any Westbrook owner complain. He easily could have missed the game.
Alex Smith impressed me. I watched as Philly's pass rush made things hard for him in the second half, and he not only got up, but made decent decisions. He wasn't picked off. The fumbles would have happened to anyone, the way he was trounced.
Seahawks 42, Giants 30: Deceiving game statistically. Face it, Eli Manning looked awful early on, worse than he did in the Philly game a week before. And this time Eli's big comeback effort wasn't enough. Eli was just that bad, falling behind 42-3. Ugh. Was I wrong about Eli? Giants fans sure think so. While he ended up with decent stats, they are misleading, and we all know it. Hey, just like the Philly game was just one game, so was this. Manning must learn consistency. Even after the Philly comeback I knew that, but figured he'd stop with these miserable performances. Guess not. Still, I'm playing him. You want to say I misread Eli, go ahead, but you know he could easily turn into a top five statistical fantasy quarterback. Is he there yet? Put it this way, after three weeks, Eli has numbers. It's just disconcerting to Giants fans how he's gotten them.
What I take from this game, other than how bad Eli and the Giants were, allowing Matt Hasselbeck to throw five touchdown passes, is that Shaun Alexander just doesn't look the same. He scored his touchdown just a few minutes into the game, then sleepwalked through the rest, getting two yards per carry. Is he hurt? Is it the line? Teams keying on the run and letting Hasselbeck and talented receivers beat them? I don't know, but Alexander has plenty of time to earn top three status.
Deion Branch played, but really, what can one learn in a game like this?
Ravens 15, Browns 14: This proves that the Ravens offense isn't nearly as good as it looked the first two weeks. Maybe it never was that good. Steve McNair has weapons, so I'm not sure I understand this. Jamal Lewis had another favorable result, with 86 yards. Derrick Mason isn't aging. Mark Clayton played the possession receiver role well. And Todd Heap, suddenly questionable over the weekend with an ankle sprain, scored Baltimore's touchdown. So why couldn't the Ravens score more against Cleveland? And really, how did Cleveland score two touchdowns, especially without a running game. Reuben Droughns surprisingly didn't play, leaving behind a mess. Charlie Frye didn't get the win, but performed well. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow remain interesting fantasy options. If they can get more than 200 receiving yards against the Ravens, they'll have better days.

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Swoon Over Miami

By Tristan Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>It's hardly fair to condemn the Dolphins' Daunte Culpepper outright as a mediocre fantasy quarterback based on only three games, but three games is indeed enough time for us to draw some conclusions regarding his value. So far, his return from knee surgery as more of a pocket passer than the scrambler he was in the past hasn't been at all an encouraging one.
Through three games, Culpepper has averaged 226.7 passing yards per contest, with one touchdown compared to three interceptions. His passer rating (73.1) is no better than the one he managed in seven games played in 2005 (72.0), which begs the question, were Culpepper's best years in Minnesota entirely a product of his top receiver, Randy Moss? After all, it seems all too coincidental that Culpepper's three best career seasons (2000, '03 and '04) were all huge years for Moss in terms of touchdowns (15, 17 and 13, respectively).
Culpepper and the other receivers he's played with throughout his career do seem to lack the same rapport he had with Moss, and in 15 games without Moss since the start of the 2004 season, he's averaged 228.2 passing yards, with 16 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His current top receiver, Chris Chambers, is arguably the best pass catcher Culpepper has worked with since he and Moss were split up following the 2004 campaign, but even Chambers isn't quite the talent Moss was in his prime. Culpepper hasn't come close to making full use of Chambers yet, and he's barely even looking the way of his tight end, Randy McMichael, one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the game.
The bottom line is that if Culpepper couldn't capitalize on so favorable a matchup as a home game against the Titans in Week 3, one has to wonder how much potential he'll have in any game. He gets the Texans in Houston in Week 4, which is effectively a must-perform situation. The Redskins' Mark Brunell set an NFL record for consecutive completions (22) against Houston in Week 3, quieting his critics, and it's not like he's in any better a situation than Culpepper. This is the kind of matchup that should do one of two things: Culpepper succeeding would offer his fantasy owners perhaps their only sell-high opportunity all year; Culpepper failing would place all the blame for Miami's problems on him.
Whatever the result, Culpepper probably isn't in any immediate danger of losing his job, nor should we assume he'll be a fantasy disaster all year. But he's in severe danger of slipping into permanent backup quarterback status, meaning it's a key week in which for him to rebound. I'd hope for a big game, then try to sell him off while he still has some value, because even with a good Week 4, he's looking altogether too shaky so far.
<STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Frank Gore's bruised ribs should be closely monitored during practice this week; the 49ers running back seems more likely to give up most -- if not all -- of his goal-line carries as a result of his health than his fumbling issues. Still, both are factors, which is why Michael Robinson has developed into such a hot sleeper/larger leagues pickup. No one seemed to be talking about Gore's problems holding onto the ball, and his performance sure wasn't a worry, but now that he has hit the first stumbling block of his breakout season, all his faults have suddenly become magnified. I'm not ready to change my stance on Gore; I said a week ago and stand by it today that he should be an every-week No. 2 starter (in any game in which he's healthy enough to play). Why wouldn't I call him more? Simple: His fumbling problems are finally being exposed enough that Robinson indeed could begin vulturing a fair share of his goal-line carries. That doesn't make Robinson a must-add, in my mind, but it does give him a little appeal in TD-heavy scoring systems, and it does make him an intriguing Gore handcuff if you have a deep enough bench to add him.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Michael Clayton, WR, Buccaneers
1 reception, 14 receiving yards, 0 TDs
While no one would recommend new Buccaneers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski in a fantasy league -- nor should they -- it's important to remember that we shouldn't completely dismiss players who have yet to receive a chance at the NFL level. Still, no matter what Gradkowski does for Tampa Bay for as long as he starts, the odds are stacked heavily against his favor, and against that of his receivers. Untested, rookie quarterbacks generally face a long learning curve, and while they're adjusting to the NFL level, their receivers and their teams' offenses as a whole suffer. And browsing the Tampa Bay roster, no player stands out as one whose numbers could suffer more than Clayton, a clear No. 2 to Joey Galloway on the depth chart. Consider that in three games, Clayton has only nine receptions for 110 yards and no scores, despite being targeted 19 times. Now, it's anyone's guess which receiver Gradkowski will pick as his preferred target; Brian Griese's favorite receiver in his Tampa Bay days seemed to be Clayton, while Chris Simms' appeared to be Galloway. But with Gradkowski facing the challenge of adjusting to life at the NFL level, and dealing with an offensive line that shouldn't offer him much time to locate his receivers, he's probably going to look first to his No. 1 man, Galloway (targeted 27 times so far this season), and if Galloway's covered, tight end Alex Smith might be his next look. Clayton's role only seems to decrease each week, and he's looking a lot closer to the struggling sophomore he was in 2005 than the rookie standout he was in 2004.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Swoon Over Miami

By Tristan Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>It's hardly fair to condemn the Dolphins' Daunte Culpepper outright as a mediocre fantasy quarterback based on only three games, but three games is indeed enough time for us to draw some conclusions regarding his value. So far, his return from knee surgery as more of a pocket passer than the scrambler he was in the past hasn't been at all an encouraging one.
Through three games, Culpepper has averaged 226.7 passing yards per contest, with one touchdown compared to three interceptions. His passer rating (73.1) is no better than the one he managed in seven games played in 2005 (72.0), which begs the question, were Culpepper's best years in Minnesota entirely a product of his top receiver, Randy Moss? After all, it seems all too coincidental that Culpepper's three best career seasons (2000, '03 and '04) were all huge years for Moss in terms of touchdowns (15, 17 and 13, respectively).
Culpepper and the other receivers he's played with throughout his career do seem to lack the same rapport he had with Moss, and in 15 games without Moss since the start of the 2004 season, he's averaged 228.2 passing yards, with 16 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His current top receiver, Chris Chambers, is arguably the best pass catcher Culpepper has worked with since he and Moss were split up following the 2004 campaign, but even Chambers isn't quite the talent Moss was in his prime. Culpepper hasn't come close to making full use of Chambers yet, and he's barely even looking the way of his tight end, Randy McMichael, one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the game.
The bottom line is that if Culpepper couldn't capitalize on so favorable a matchup as a home game against the Titans in Week 3, one has to wonder how much potential he'll have in any game. He gets the Texans in Houston in Week 4, which is effectively a must-perform situation. The Redskins' Mark Brunell set an NFL record for consecutive completions (22) against Houston in Week 3, quieting his critics, and it's not like he's in any better a situation than Culpepper. This is the kind of matchup that should do one of two things: Culpepper succeeding would offer his fantasy owners perhaps their only sell-high opportunity all year; Culpepper failing would place all the blame for Miami's problems on him.
Whatever the result, Culpepper probably isn't in any immediate danger of losing his job, nor should we assume he'll be a fantasy disaster all year. But he's in severe danger of slipping into permanent backup quarterback status, meaning it's a key week in which for him to rebound. I'd hope for a big game, then try to sell him off while he still has some value, because even with a good Week 4, he's looking altogether too shaky so far.
<STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Frank Gore's bruised ribs should be closely monitored during practice this week; the 49ers running back seems more likely to give up most -- if not all -- of his goal-line carries as a result of his health than his fumbling issues. Still, both are factors, which is why Michael Robinson has developed into such a hot sleeper/larger leagues pickup. No one seemed to be talking about Gore's problems holding onto the ball, and his performance sure wasn't a worry, but now that he has hit the first stumbling block of his breakout season, all his faults have suddenly become magnified. I'm not ready to change my stance on Gore; I said a week ago and stand by it today that he should be an every-week No. 2 starter (in any game in which he's healthy enough to play). Why wouldn't I call him more? Simple: His fumbling problems are finally being exposed enough that Robinson indeed could begin vulturing a fair share of his goal-line carries. That doesn't make Robinson a must-add, in my mind, but it does give him a little appeal in TD-heavy scoring systems, and it does make him an intriguing Gore handcuff if you have a deep enough bench to add him.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Michael Clayton, WR, Buccaneers
1 reception, 14 receiving yards, 0 TDs
While no one would recommend new Buccaneers quarterback Bruce Gradkowski in a fantasy league -- nor should they -- it's important to remember that we shouldn't completely dismiss players who have yet to receive a chance at the NFL level. Still, no matter what Gradkowski does for Tampa Bay for as long as he starts, the odds are stacked heavily against his favor, and against that of his receivers. Untested, rookie quarterbacks generally face a long learning curve, and while they're adjusting to the NFL level, their receivers and their teams' offenses as a whole suffer. And browsing the Tampa Bay roster, no player stands out as one whose numbers could suffer more than Clayton, a clear No. 2 to Joey Galloway on the depth chart. Consider that in three games, Clayton has only nine receptions for 110 yards and no scores, despite being targeted 19 times. Now, it's anyone's guess which receiver Gradkowski will pick as his preferred target; Brian Griese's favorite receiver in his Tampa Bay days seemed to be Clayton, while Chris Simms' appeared to be Galloway. But with Gradkowski facing the challenge of adjusting to life at the NFL level, and dealing with an offensive line that shouldn't offer him much time to locate his receivers, he's probably going to look first to his No. 1 man, Galloway (targeted 27 times so far this season), and if Galloway's covered, tight end Alex Smith might be his next look. Clayton's role only seems to decrease each week, and he's looking a lot closer to the struggling sophomore he was in 2005 than the rookie standout he was in 2004.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Buzzing about fantasy

posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

We've always said that fantasy football owners, more than in any other fantasy sport, are way too reactive, and endure the highest of highs when things go well, and the lowest of lows when they don't. Think about it: with only one game per week, a two-point loss lingers for days, especially if it happened by questionable means. And then a miracle win can brighten a week, at least until the next game.

Same thing can happen with individual players. Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn were monsters the first two weeks, had a bad Monday, and now we get questions about their future. It's one game!
When Shaun Alexander got hurt, there were more e-mails and feedback about Maurice Morris than you can possibly imagine. The Monday night buzz, other than the fact that nobody ever wants to see another NFL player on the cover of Madden, was you had to do whatever you could to go get the new Seattle running back.
Good move or bad? Well, it's both.
? Alexander fantasy football owners on Monday morning: C'mon, only 47 yards? What's the matter with this guy? I spent my first pick on this?
? Alexander owners on Monday night: Shaun who? Sorry dear, I'll eat dinner later, I gotta go online and get this Morris guy right now!
? And we look ahead to next Monday: This guy sucks. I could've had anyone get me five fantasy points. Where's Ronnie Dayne?
Yes, that's fantasy football, where the highs are too high, the lows are too low. Morris has a few issues to deal with this week:
? If Alexander couldn't run when healthy this month, why will Morris? He's not better than Alexander.
? Seattle travels to Chicago. Um, that's not a fun place for running backs to play, not against this defense.
? If/when Morris fails to reach expectations that are likely unreasonable, his stock will drop. He's probably wondering why his first game couldn't be against Houston! Where's Ricky Watters when you need him?
Morris was owned in 2.9 percent of ESPN leagues, mainly by Alexander owners who figured they would handcuff their most critical investment. By the end of this week, I'm thinking Morris will be owned in just about every league, on the chance he turns into a terrific fantasy option. There's no harm in adding the guy. The harm is probably in playing him. So good for you if you already owned Morris and got ahead of the curve. It's also smart, whether you owned Alexander or not, to sign Morris this week, as long as you're not dropping a potential superstar.
My prediction on Morris is that you don't see the payoff in your pickup until Week 6 when the Seahawks go to St. Louis. And even then, there's no guarantee Morris has a big game against the Rams. The Broncos didn't in Week 1. Plus, Alexander could make a strong recovery and play that week. Broken bones heal faster than sprains and other tears.
So you're obviously buzzing about Maurice Morris and Shaun Alexander. What else?
(Before we get to the other names, I'm not going to write about the Terrell Owens situation from Tuesday night/Wednesday morning from a fantasy aspect. Well, unless I'm ordered to. Fact is, whatever's going on, it's not my place to judge or predict off-field activity, or to mix what could be, if reports are true, a serious situation not to be confused with what we discuss here. I don't think Owens will play this week, so react accordingly. Hopefully Owens will be OK, mentally and physically, and I mean that. More details will surely come out on Owens' behavior, follow all the news on ESPN.com's NFL coverage.)
And while we're at it, we wish health for Chris Simms, and look forward to discussing his fantasy future in 2007.
? Will the starting QB in Arizona please stand up? On Monday there was a report that the Cardinals would start Matt Leinart in Week 4 against Atlanta, with fumble king Kurt Warner heading to the bench. On Tuesday, Warner apparently got his job back. Maybe he held on to the ball in Monday's practice and that was enough to convince the coaches. Fantasy owners are flocking to Leinart. Should they? How many rookie quarterbacks really succeed in fantasy football? Peyton Manning wasn't a star. Ben Roethlisberger won games for the Steelers, but not for us.
It's true that whoever takes the snaps for Arizona gets the luxury of throwing to Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Edgerrin James, but the line is a mess, and probably contributed to Warner's woes. Leinart is more mobile, of course. I mean, my desk is more mobile. But Leinart would still go through the same rookie issues everyone else does. Sign him if you must, but you don't even know if he'll play this week, or anytime soon.
? Speaking of, what about the Titans? For everything I wrote about Leinart, double that for Vince Young. In fact, Tennessee is worse off than Arizona. Travis Henry? David Givens? The schedule, the defense, it's a mess. So I'm not actually saying Young and Leinart will be bad fantasy players, but it's likely they won't be much help to you. It's fun to talk about them and speculate, relive their college days, but Jake Delhomme is a better fantasy quarterback for 2006, without question. As for Kerry Collins, I don't see too many scenarios at this point where he holds fantasy value. Warner, as long as he plays, still does.
? Is Brett Favre reliving his golden years? Not so fast, people. While I was one of the guys to predict Favre would have big games against New Orleans and Detroit, I still view Favre as more of a matchup play. And a Monday night game at Philadelphia is not a good matchup. I was on the sidelines last season when Favre came to Philly in Week 12 and threw a pair of interceptions. Watching a game on TV you can't fully appreciate when a QB is throwing the ball up for grabs. On the sideline, 20 yards away, you can. Favre does look better the last few weeks, certainly more accurate, enjoying an improved running game and a solid No. 2 receiving option in rookie Greg Jennings. But let's not get too excited for this week. After Week 4, he's got the Rams, Dolphins and Cardinals, which is nice, and later in the year the 49ers and Lions again.
? Why all the hatin' on Rex Grossman? We're not really trying to be mean in reference to Grossman, and we understand there's a difference between winning football games, and winning fantasy football games. Grossman might have a Roethlisberger type season and win 13 games, but I'm not sold on him as a fantasy starter. He's at home the next two Sundays against a pair of decent defenses (Seattle, Buffalo), and I wouldn't go out of my way to activate him. He's not a top 10 fantasy quarterback.
? Is Reggie Bush not worth it? No, he's definitely worth it, but the Saints would rather control the clock and win games than alienate Deuce McAllister and watch their top pick run 25 times for big yardage each week. I agree with that line of thinking. And Monday night's game was proof that the Falcons went out of their way to game plan for Bush, and force McAllister or Drew Brees to make plays. New Orleans did score 23 points, but quite a bit of that was the fault of Atlanta's defense. Anyway, Bush hasn't scored yet, but he will. He remains a flex option, at worst, a guy you should play each week. Don't expect a monster performance at Carolina this week, but Bush is worth using. ? Why does every first round pick struggle? In reality, some first rounders every season don't put up the numbers you expect, but the reason you take a LaMont Jordan eighth overall, and not a Frank Gore, is because of the value placed on the players. Jordan was worth more. Sure, you might have felt Gore would be better, but you could get him 45 minutes later. But also, how much separates a first round running back from a third rounder? Experience and durability are factors, as well as a team's fortunes. The Raiders are struggling, to say the least, and Jordan has been affected. The Niners, meanwhile, are scoring points. It's wonderful that you got Chester Taylor in round four while your first rounder Tiki Barber is doing nothing, but that doesn't mean you should've known this on draft day, or you should expect it all season.

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Buzzing about fantasy

posted: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Fantasy NFL

We've always said that fantasy football owners, more than in any other fantasy sport, are way too reactive, and endure the highest of highs when things go well, and the lowest of lows when they don't. Think about it: with only one game per week, a two-point loss lingers for days, especially if it happened by questionable means. And then a miracle win can brighten a week, at least until the next game.

Same thing can happen with individual players. Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn were monsters the first two weeks, had a bad Monday, and now we get questions about their future. It's one game!
When Shaun Alexander got hurt, there were more e-mails and feedback about Maurice Morris than you can possibly imagine. The Monday night buzz, other than the fact that nobody ever wants to see another NFL player on the cover of Madden, was you had to do whatever you could to go get the new Seattle running back.
Good move or bad? Well, it's both.
? Alexander fantasy football owners on Monday morning: C'mon, only 47 yards? What's the matter with this guy? I spent my first pick on this?
? Alexander owners on Monday night: Shaun who? Sorry dear, I'll eat dinner later, I gotta go online and get this Morris guy right now!
? And we look ahead to next Monday: This guy sucks. I could've had anyone get me five fantasy points. Where's Ronnie Dayne?
Yes, that's fantasy football, where the highs are too high, the lows are too low. Morris has a few issues to deal with this week:
? If Alexander couldn't run when healthy this month, why will Morris? He's not better than Alexander.
? Seattle travels to Chicago. Um, that's not a fun place for running backs to play, not against this defense.
? If/when Morris fails to reach expectations that are likely unreasonable, his stock will drop. He's probably wondering why his first game couldn't be against Houston! Where's Ricky Watters when you need him?
Morris was owned in 2.9 percent of ESPN leagues, mainly by Alexander owners who figured they would handcuff their most critical investment. By the end of this week, I'm thinking Morris will be owned in just about every league, on the chance he turns into a terrific fantasy option. There's no harm in adding the guy. The harm is probably in playing him. So good for you if you already owned Morris and got ahead of the curve. It's also smart, whether you owned Alexander or not, to sign Morris this week, as long as you're not dropping a potential superstar.
My prediction on Morris is that you don't see the payoff in your pickup until Week 6 when the Seahawks go to St. Louis. And even then, there's no guarantee Morris has a big game against the Rams. The Broncos didn't in Week 1. Plus, Alexander could make a strong recovery and play that week. Broken bones heal faster than sprains and other tears.
So you're obviously buzzing about Maurice Morris and Shaun Alexander. What else?
(Before we get to the other names, I'm not going to write about the Terrell Owens situation from Tuesday night/Wednesday morning from a fantasy aspect. Well, unless I'm ordered to. Fact is, whatever's going on, it's not my place to judge or predict off-field activity, or to mix what could be, if reports are true, a serious situation not to be confused with what we discuss here. I don't think Owens will play this week, so react accordingly. Hopefully Owens will be OK, mentally and physically, and I mean that. More details will surely come out on Owens' behavior, follow all the news on ESPN.com's NFL coverage.)
And while we're at it, we wish health for Chris Simms, and look forward to discussing his fantasy future in 2007.
? Will the starting QB in Arizona please stand up? On Monday there was a report that the Cardinals would start Matt Leinart in Week 4 against Atlanta, with fumble king Kurt Warner heading to the bench. On Tuesday, Warner apparently got his job back. Maybe he held on to the ball in Monday's practice and that was enough to convince the coaches. Fantasy owners are flocking to Leinart. Should they? How many rookie quarterbacks really succeed in fantasy football? Peyton Manning wasn't a star. Ben Roethlisberger won games for the Steelers, but not for us.
It's true that whoever takes the snaps for Arizona gets the luxury of throwing to Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Edgerrin James, but the line is a mess, and probably contributed to Warner's woes. Leinart is more mobile, of course. I mean, my desk is more mobile. But Leinart would still go through the same rookie issues everyone else does. Sign him if you must, but you don't even know if he'll play this week, or anytime soon.
? Speaking of, what about the Titans? For everything I wrote about Leinart, double that for Vince Young. In fact, Tennessee is worse off than Arizona. Travis Henry? David Givens? The schedule, the defense, it's a mess. So I'm not actually saying Young and Leinart will be bad fantasy players, but it's likely they won't be much help to you. It's fun to talk about them and speculate, relive their college days, but Jake Delhomme is a better fantasy quarterback for 2006, without question. As for Kerry Collins, I don't see too many scenarios at this point where he holds fantasy value. Warner, as long as he plays, still does.
? Is Brett Favre reliving his golden years? Not so fast, people. While I was one of the guys to predict Favre would have big games against New Orleans and Detroit, I still view Favre as more of a matchup play. And a Monday night game at Philadelphia is not a good matchup. I was on the sidelines last season when Favre came to Philly in Week 12 and threw a pair of interceptions. Watching a game on TV you can't fully appreciate when a QB is throwing the ball up for grabs. On the sideline, 20 yards away, you can. Favre does look better the last few weeks, certainly more accurate, enjoying an improved running game and a solid No. 2 receiving option in rookie Greg Jennings. But let's not get too excited for this week. After Week 4, he's got the Rams, Dolphins and Cardinals, which is nice, and later in the year the 49ers and Lions again.
? Why all the hatin' on Rex Grossman? We're not really trying to be mean in reference to Grossman, and we understand there's a difference between winning football games, and winning fantasy football games. Grossman might have a Roethlisberger type season and win 13 games, but I'm not sold on him as a fantasy starter. He's at home the next two Sundays against a pair of decent defenses (Seattle, Buffalo), and I wouldn't go out of my way to activate him. He's not a top 10 fantasy quarterback.
? Is Reggie Bush not worth it? No, he's definitely worth it, but the Saints would rather control the clock and win games than alienate Deuce McAllister and watch their top pick run 25 times for big yardage each week. I agree with that line of thinking. And Monday night's game was proof that the Falcons went out of their way to game plan for Bush, and force McAllister or Drew Brees to make plays. New Orleans did score 23 points, but quite a bit of that was the fault of Atlanta's defense. Anyway, Bush hasn't scored yet, but he will. He remains a flex option, at worst, a guy you should play each week. Don't expect a monster performance at Carolina this week, but Bush is worth using. ? Why does every first round pick struggle? In reality, some first rounders every season don't put up the numbers you expect, but the reason you take a LaMont Jordan eighth overall, and not a Frank Gore, is because of the value placed on the players. Jordan was worth more. Sure, you might have felt Gore would be better, but you could get him 45 minutes later. But also, how much separates a first round running back from a third rounder? Experience and durability are factors, as well as a team's fortunes. The Raiders are struggling, to say the least, and Jordan has been affected. The Niners, meanwhile, are scoring points. It's wonderful that you got Chester Taylor in round four while your first rounder Tiki Barber is doing nothing, but that doesn't mean you should've known this on draft day, or you should expect it all season.

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Sep. 27, 2006, 3:19 PM

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>

FFL: Week 4 Lineup Rankings

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>Quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning at NYJ
2. Donovan McNabb vs. GB
3. Carson Palmer vs. NE
4. Tom Brady at CIN
5. Marc Bulger vs. DET
6. Matt Hasselbeck at CHI
7. Chad Pennington vs. IND
8. Brett Favre at PHI
9. Drew Bledsoe at TEN
10. Jake Delhomme vs. NO
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" width="8" height="1"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]We rate players based on possible fantasy production each week, taking into account past production as well as matchups. These are not overall player rankings, but rather a list of who you should start for the upcoming week. Top superstars will rarely get moved out of the prime spots, as they should not be benched unless injured. Most players with an unclear injury or starting status for the upcoming week will not be included. All four major offensive positions and defense/special teams units are ranked. [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>11. Rex Grossman vs. SEA
12. Drew Brees at CAR
13. Michael Vick vs. ARI
14. Kurt Warner at ATL
15. David Carr vs. MIA
16. Steve McNair vs. SD
17. Byron Leftwich at WAS
18. Daunte Culpepper at HOU
19. Alex Smith at KC
20. Charlie Frye at OAK
21. Jon Kitna at STL
22. Brad Johnson at BUF
23. Mark Brunell vs. JAC
24. J.P. Losman vs. MIN
25. Philip Rivers at BAL
26. Damon Huard vs. SF
27. Andrew Walter vs. CLE
28. Kerry Collins vs. DAL

Running Backs
1. Larry Johnson vs. SF
2. LaDainian Tomlinson at BAL
3. Ronnie Brown at HOU
4. Brian Westbrook vs. GB
5. Rudi Johnson vs. NE
6. Steven Jackson vs. DET
7. Warrick Dunn vs. ARI
8. Edgerrin James at ATL
9. Clinton Portis vs. JAC
10. Chester Taylor at BUF
11. Willis McGahee vs. MIN
12. Laurence Maroney at CIN
13. Frank Gore at KC
14. LaMont Jordan vs. CLE
15. Deuce McAllister at CAR
16. Reggie Bush at CAR
17. Jamal Lewis vs. SD
18. Julius Jones at TEN
19. Kevin Jones at STL
20. Ahman Green at PHI
21. Thomas Jones vs. SEA
22. Maurice Morris at CHI
23. Reuben Droughns at OAK
24. Corey Dillon at CIN
25. DeShaun Foster vs. NO
26. Fred Taylor at WAS
27. Dominic Rhodes at NYJ
28. Joseph Addai at NYJ
29. Kevan Barlow vs. IND
30. Ron Dayne vs. MIA
31. Maurice Jones-Drew at WAS
32. Travis Henry vs. DAL
33. DeAngelo Williams vs. NO
34. Leon Washington vs. IND
35. Ladell Betts vs. JAC
36. Michael Robinson at KC
37. Jerious Norwood vs. ARI
38. Marion Barber III at TEN
39. Samkon Gado vs. MIA
40. Jason Wright at OAK

Wide Receivers
1. Marvin Harrison at NYJ
2. Torry Holt vs. DET
3. Chad Johnson vs. NE
4. Steve Smith vs. NO
5. Anquan Boldin at ATL
6. Larry Fitzgerald at ATL
7. Chris Chambers at HOU
8. Andre Johnson vs. MIA
9. Antonio Bryant at KC
10. Donald Driver at PHI
11. Roy Williams at STL
12. Reggie Brown vs. GB
13. Santana Moss vs. JAC
14. Terry Glenn at TEN
15. Laveranues Coles vs. IND
16. Braylon Edwards at OAK
17. Randy Moss vs. CLE
18. T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. NE
19. Keyshawn Johnson vs. NO
20. Darrell Jackson at CHI
21. Bernard Berrian vs. SEA
22. Jerricho Cotchery vs. IND
23. Muhsin Muhammad vs. SEA
24. Greg Jennings at PHI
25. Troy Williamson at BUF
26. Derrick Mason vs. SD
27. Isaac Bruce vs. DET
28. Eddie Kennison vs. SF
29. Marques Colston at CAR
30. Lee Evans vs. MIN
31. Joe Horn at CAR
32. Reggie Williams at WAS
33. Deion Branch at CHI
34. Chris Henry vs. NE
35. Matt Jones at WAS
36. Drew Bennett vs. DAL
37. Keenan McCardell at BAL
38. Michael Jenkins vs. ARI
39. Eric Moulds vs. MIA
40. Marty Booker at HOU
41. Doug Gabriel at CIN
42. Mark Clayton vs. SD
43. Travis Taylor at BUF
44. Bobby Engram at CHI
45. Nate Burleson at CHI
46. Antwaan Randle El vs. JAC
47. Mike Furrey at STL
48. Aaron Moorehead at NYJ
49. Patrick Crayton at TEN
50. Ashley Lelie vs. ARI
51. Devery Henderson at CAR
52. Josh Reed vs. MIN
53. Roddy White vs. ARI
54. David Givens vs. DAL
55. Samie Parker vs. SF
56. Troy Brown at CIN
57. Brandon Lloyd vs. JAC
58. Peerless Price vs. MIN
59. Ernest Wilford at WAS
60. Arnaz Battle at KC

Tight Ends
1. Antonio Gates at BAL
2. Todd Heap vs. SD
3. Tony Gonzalez vs. SF
4. Alge Crumpler vs. ARI
5. L.J. Smith vs. GB
6. Kellen Winslow Jr. at OAK
7. Benjamin Watson at CIN
8. Jason Witten at TEN
9. Randy McMichael at HOU
10. Eric Johnson at KC
11. Dallas Clark at NYJ
12. Chris Cooley vs. JAC
13. Bubba Franks at PHI
14. Jermaine Wiggins at BUF
15. Chris Baker vs. IND
16. Ben Troupe vs. DAL
17. Owen Daniels vs. MIA
18. Daniel Graham at CIN
19. John Gilmore vs. SEA
20. Bo Scaife vs. DAL
21. Dan Campbell at STL
22. Will Heller at CHI
23. Donald Lee at PHI
24. Joe Klopfenstein vs. DET
25. Anthony Fasano at TEN

Defense/Special Teams
1. Baltimore vs. SD
2. Chicago vs. SEA
3. Philadelphia vs. GB
4. Seattle at CHI
5. San Diego at BAL
6. Jacksonville at WAS
7. Miami at HOU
8. Carolina vs. NO
9. Minnesota at BUF
10. Buffalo vs. MIN
11. Cincinnati vs. NE
12. Dallas at TEN
13. Indianapolis at NYJ
14. Atlanta vs. ARI
15. Cleveland at OAK
16. New Orleans at CAR
17. Washington vs. JAC
18. St. Louis vs. DET
19. Kansas City vs. SF
20. New England vs. CIN
21. Houston vs. MIA
22. San Francisco at KC
23. N.Y. Jets vs. IND
24. Arizona at ATL
25. Oakland vs. CLE
26. Tennessee vs. DAL
27. Detroit at STL
28. Green Bay at PHI
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Sep. 27, 2006, 3:19 PM

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>

FFL: Week 4 Lineup Rankings

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>Quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning at NYJ
2. Donovan McNabb vs. GB
3. Carson Palmer vs. NE
4. Tom Brady at CIN
5. Marc Bulger vs. DET
6. Matt Hasselbeck at CHI
7. Chad Pennington vs. IND
8. Brett Favre at PHI
9. Drew Bledsoe at TEN
10. Jake Delhomme vs. NO
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER type="block" width="8" height="1"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]We rate players based on possible fantasy production each week, taking into account past production as well as matchups. These are not overall player rankings, but rather a list of who you should start for the upcoming week. Top superstars will rarely get moved out of the prime spots, as they should not be benched unless injured. Most players with an unclear injury or starting status for the upcoming week will not be included. All four major offensive positions and defense/special teams units are ranked. [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>11. Rex Grossman vs. SEA
12. Drew Brees at CAR
13. Michael Vick vs. ARI
14. Kurt Warner at ATL
15. David Carr vs. MIA
16. Steve McNair vs. SD
17. Byron Leftwich at WAS
18. Daunte Culpepper at HOU
19. Alex Smith at KC
20. Charlie Frye at OAK
21. Jon Kitna at STL
22. Brad Johnson at BUF
23. Mark Brunell vs. JAC
24. J.P. Losman vs. MIN
25. Philip Rivers at BAL
26. Damon Huard vs. SF
27. Andrew Walter vs. CLE
28. Kerry Collins vs. DAL

Running Backs
1. Larry Johnson vs. SF
2. LaDainian Tomlinson at BAL
3. Ronnie Brown at HOU
4. Brian Westbrook vs. GB
5. Rudi Johnson vs. NE
6. Steven Jackson vs. DET
7. Warrick Dunn vs. ARI
8. Edgerrin James at ATL
9. Clinton Portis vs. JAC
10. Chester Taylor at BUF
11. Willis McGahee vs. MIN
12. Laurence Maroney at CIN
13. Frank Gore at KC
14. LaMont Jordan vs. CLE
15. Deuce McAllister at CAR
16. Reggie Bush at CAR
17. Jamal Lewis vs. SD
18. Julius Jones at TEN
19. Kevin Jones at STL
20. Ahman Green at PHI
21. Thomas Jones vs. SEA
22. Maurice Morris at CHI
23. Reuben Droughns at OAK
24. Corey Dillon at CIN
25. DeShaun Foster vs. NO
26. Fred Taylor at WAS
27. Dominic Rhodes at NYJ
28. Joseph Addai at NYJ
29. Kevan Barlow vs. IND
30. Ron Dayne vs. MIA
31. Maurice Jones-Drew at WAS
32. Travis Henry vs. DAL
33. DeAngelo Williams vs. NO
34. Leon Washington vs. IND
35. Ladell Betts vs. JAC
36. Michael Robinson at KC
37. Jerious Norwood vs. ARI
38. Marion Barber III at TEN
39. Samkon Gado vs. MIA
40. Jason Wright at OAK

Wide Receivers
1. Marvin Harrison at NYJ
2. Torry Holt vs. DET
3. Chad Johnson vs. NE
4. Steve Smith vs. NO
5. Anquan Boldin at ATL
6. Larry Fitzgerald at ATL
7. Chris Chambers at HOU
8. Andre Johnson vs. MIA
9. Antonio Bryant at KC
10. Donald Driver at PHI
11. Roy Williams at STL
12. Reggie Brown vs. GB
13. Santana Moss vs. JAC
14. Terry Glenn at TEN
15. Laveranues Coles vs. IND
16. Braylon Edwards at OAK
17. Randy Moss vs. CLE
18. T.J. Houshmandzadeh vs. NE
19. Keyshawn Johnson vs. NO
20. Darrell Jackson at CHI
21. Bernard Berrian vs. SEA
22. Jerricho Cotchery vs. IND
23. Muhsin Muhammad vs. SEA
24. Greg Jennings at PHI
25. Troy Williamson at BUF
26. Derrick Mason vs. SD
27. Isaac Bruce vs. DET
28. Eddie Kennison vs. SF
29. Marques Colston at CAR
30. Lee Evans vs. MIN
31. Joe Horn at CAR
32. Reggie Williams at WAS
33. Deion Branch at CHI
34. Chris Henry vs. NE
35. Matt Jones at WAS
36. Drew Bennett vs. DAL
37. Keenan McCardell at BAL
38. Michael Jenkins vs. ARI
39. Eric Moulds vs. MIA
40. Marty Booker at HOU
41. Doug Gabriel at CIN
42. Mark Clayton vs. SD
43. Travis Taylor at BUF
44. Bobby Engram at CHI
45. Nate Burleson at CHI
46. Antwaan Randle El vs. JAC
47. Mike Furrey at STL
48. Aaron Moorehead at NYJ
49. Patrick Crayton at TEN
50. Ashley Lelie vs. ARI
51. Devery Henderson at CAR
52. Josh Reed vs. MIN
53. Roddy White vs. ARI
54. David Givens vs. DAL
55. Samie Parker vs. SF
56. Troy Brown at CIN
57. Brandon Lloyd vs. JAC
58. Peerless Price vs. MIN
59. Ernest Wilford at WAS
60. Arnaz Battle at KC

Tight Ends
1. Antonio Gates at BAL
2. Todd Heap vs. SD
3. Tony Gonzalez vs. SF
4. Alge Crumpler vs. ARI
5. L.J. Smith vs. GB
6. Kellen Winslow Jr. at OAK
7. Benjamin Watson at CIN
8. Jason Witten at TEN
9. Randy McMichael at HOU
10. Eric Johnson at KC
11. Dallas Clark at NYJ
12. Chris Cooley vs. JAC
13. Bubba Franks at PHI
14. Jermaine Wiggins at BUF
15. Chris Baker vs. IND
16. Ben Troupe vs. DAL
17. Owen Daniels vs. MIA
18. Daniel Graham at CIN
19. John Gilmore vs. SEA
20. Bo Scaife vs. DAL
21. Dan Campbell at STL
22. Will Heller at CHI
23. Donald Lee at PHI
24. Joe Klopfenstein vs. DET
25. Anthony Fasano at TEN

Defense/Special Teams
1. Baltimore vs. SD
2. Chicago vs. SEA
3. Philadelphia vs. GB
4. Seattle at CHI
5. San Diego at BAL
6. Jacksonville at WAS
7. Miami at HOU
8. Carolina vs. NO
9. Minnesota at BUF
10. Buffalo vs. MIN
11. Cincinnati vs. NE
12. Dallas at TEN
13. Indianapolis at NYJ
14. Atlanta vs. ARI
15. Cleveland at OAK
16. New Orleans at CAR
17. Washington vs. JAC
18. St. Louis vs. DET
19. Kansas City vs. SF
20. New England vs. CIN
21. Houston vs. MIA
22. San Francisco at KC
23. N.Y. Jets vs. IND
24. Arizona at ATL
25. Oakland vs. CLE
26. Tennessee vs. DAL
27. Detroit at STL
28. Green Bay at PHI
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Sep. 27, 2006, 4:36 PM

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Engel: Will Hasselbeck soar or stumble?

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Each Wednesday, we take a quick-hitting, fantasy-style look at some of the most important stories and trends at the three critical positions in fantasy football.
Quarterbacks
The Seahawks easily have the best set of four wide receivers in the league, which seems to make life enjoyable for Matt Hasselbeck. Mike Holmgren told the Seattle Times he used more four-receiver sets than usual in Seattle's dusting of the Giants. After Hasselbeck threw five TD passes against New York, it initially appears he could be headed for a superb fantasy season.
But stop before you deal a top RB for Hasselbeck. The loss of Shaun Alexander alters the look of the offense and should force defenses to make adjustments to defend the passing game first in the near future. Usually, the presence of Alexander would mean Hasselbeck would be assured of not seeing defenses drop extra men back into coverage or having them bring extra pass pressure often. But Maurice Morris simply isn't a major rushing threat, and Seattle's upcoming opponents should be expected to draw up schemes that defend the pass first. The Bears face the Seahawks on Sunday night, and could deliver a blueprint on how to effectively defend the no-Alexander Seahawks.
Without Alexander, Hasselbeck has much less of an element of surprise on play-action fakes and audibles. Look for the Bears to take away the deep ball and possibly employ extra defensive backs in several situations to handle the quartet of Darrell Jackson, Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and Bobby Engram. Hasselbeck might have to settle for more underneath throws, and it's likely he will be forced into more adverse passing situations without Alexander. That will mean more pass pressure and less time to find his key receivers in critical situations. Hasselbeck is no lock to perform better without Alexander. In fact, he'll miss him. Look for less big plays, and some efficient, but not statistically outstanding performances for the most part while Alexander is out. You're going to see more one and two TD games and the three-plus TD performance will be rare and sometimes impossible while Alexander is sidelined.
QB Audibles: Andrew Walter is set to start for Oakland in Sunday's game against Cleveland. Walter struggles with his accuracy and doesn't make consistently good reads, but he can throw the deep ball effectively at times, which could mean slightly better production for Randy Moss. ?If Brad Johnson goes down any time soon, Minnesota could be forced to turn to ex-Jet Brooks Bollinger. Rookie Tarvaris Jackson, who looked good in the preseason, is expected to miss a month after undergoing minor knee surgery.
Running Backs
It has taken some time, and we spent much of the preseason frustrated about the situation. But at least for now, the Denver RB mess has been cleared up, and finally, after a seemingly endless wait for him to emerge as the No. 1 RB, Tatum Bell sits alone at the top of the depth chart. Mike Bell no longer appears to be a threat to Tatum Bell's playing time. Cedric Cobbs is clearly no longer a factor, especially with a sprained ankle. And Ron Dayne is long gone.
Tatum Bell carried the ball a career-high 27 times against the Patriots this past Sunday. "I finally earned their trust," Tatum Bell told the Denver Post about the Broncos' coaching staff. "That's why I'm the starter. I'm going to make them happy they trust me."
According to the Post, Mike Shanahan told Tatum Bell on Saturday night he would no longer rotate series with Mike Bell. Tatum Bell reportedly won the job because of his determination to regain No. 1 RB status when he fell behind Mike Bell on the depth chart in the preseason. He continued to work on his inside running in practices, the area of his game that needed the most improvement. In the past, Tatum Bell had also seemed to fade later in games when given more touches. That was not the case against New England, when he continued to carry and perform effectively in the fourth quarter, when Shanahan gave him the opportunity to help the team protect its lead.
Bell promised to let the coaching staff know when he was tiring, and he came out in the third quarter for a brief spell, and then returned to action with no issues after Mike Bell filled in for four carries. "I know the coaches want to keep me as fresh as possible," Bell told the Post. "I plan on being a four-quarter player and a durable player."
As a regular starter for the team that often produces outstanding fantasy running backs, Bell is finally a must-start fantasy player.
RB Cutbacks: Corey Dillon is considered day-to-day with a neck stinger. It would be hard to imagine any injury that isn't major keeping Dillon from an opportunity to return to Cincinnati and hurt his former team. ? Derrick Blaylock could be inactive again this coming Sunday. ? Even though 49ers back Frank Gore (abdomen) is expected play against the Chiefs, Michael Robinson, who runs well inside, could start to steal goal-line carries from Gore on a regular basis.
Wide Receivers
Because of personal reasons, there is a chance Reggie Wayne could miss Sunday's game against the Jets. Brandon Stokley is battling an ankle problem, and the Colts might have to reach down on their depth chart and have other players step in at wide receiver for a week. Peyton Manning could involve his tight ends more in the passing game if Wayne sits out.
Aaron Moorehead would be in line to get the start if Wayne can't play, and he does know the Colts' system well and has made some big plays in the preseason in the past. But Moorehead, who had back surgery in the offseason, has caught only 17 regular season passes in his NFL career. He would strictly be a desperation option in any fantasy league.
Moorehead could get a few deep looks as a starter, but a Wayne absence could mean Manning would use tight ends Dallas Clark, Bryan Fletcher and Ben Utecht more in the passing game. Rookie RB Joseph Addai could also become busier as a pass-catcher. WR Patterns: With the Terrell Owens issues and Terry Glenn trying to play through a hand injury, Patrick Crayton could become a more important receiver for the Cowboys this week. ... Matt Jones (groin) was used mostly as a decoy last week, but he is expected to be in better health for Sunday's game against the Redskins.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Sep. 27, 2006, 4:36 PM

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT>

Engel: Will Hasselbeck soar or stumble?

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Each Wednesday, we take a quick-hitting, fantasy-style look at some of the most important stories and trends at the three critical positions in fantasy football.
Quarterbacks
The Seahawks easily have the best set of four wide receivers in the league, which seems to make life enjoyable for Matt Hasselbeck. Mike Holmgren told the Seattle Times he used more four-receiver sets than usual in Seattle's dusting of the Giants. After Hasselbeck threw five TD passes against New York, it initially appears he could be headed for a superb fantasy season.
But stop before you deal a top RB for Hasselbeck. The loss of Shaun Alexander alters the look of the offense and should force defenses to make adjustments to defend the passing game first in the near future. Usually, the presence of Alexander would mean Hasselbeck would be assured of not seeing defenses drop extra men back into coverage or having them bring extra pass pressure often. But Maurice Morris simply isn't a major rushing threat, and Seattle's upcoming opponents should be expected to draw up schemes that defend the pass first. The Bears face the Seahawks on Sunday night, and could deliver a blueprint on how to effectively defend the no-Alexander Seahawks.
Without Alexander, Hasselbeck has much less of an element of surprise on play-action fakes and audibles. Look for the Bears to take away the deep ball and possibly employ extra defensive backs in several situations to handle the quartet of Darrell Jackson, Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and Bobby Engram. Hasselbeck might have to settle for more underneath throws, and it's likely he will be forced into more adverse passing situations without Alexander. That will mean more pass pressure and less time to find his key receivers in critical situations. Hasselbeck is no lock to perform better without Alexander. In fact, he'll miss him. Look for less big plays, and some efficient, but not statistically outstanding performances for the most part while Alexander is out. You're going to see more one and two TD games and the three-plus TD performance will be rare and sometimes impossible while Alexander is sidelined.
QB Audibles: Andrew Walter is set to start for Oakland in Sunday's game against Cleveland. Walter struggles with his accuracy and doesn't make consistently good reads, but he can throw the deep ball effectively at times, which could mean slightly better production for Randy Moss. ?If Brad Johnson goes down any time soon, Minnesota could be forced to turn to ex-Jet Brooks Bollinger. Rookie Tarvaris Jackson, who looked good in the preseason, is expected to miss a month after undergoing minor knee surgery.
Running Backs
It has taken some time, and we spent much of the preseason frustrated about the situation. But at least for now, the Denver RB mess has been cleared up, and finally, after a seemingly endless wait for him to emerge as the No. 1 RB, Tatum Bell sits alone at the top of the depth chart. Mike Bell no longer appears to be a threat to Tatum Bell's playing time. Cedric Cobbs is clearly no longer a factor, especially with a sprained ankle. And Ron Dayne is long gone.
Tatum Bell carried the ball a career-high 27 times against the Patriots this past Sunday. "I finally earned their trust," Tatum Bell told the Denver Post about the Broncos' coaching staff. "That's why I'm the starter. I'm going to make them happy they trust me."
According to the Post, Mike Shanahan told Tatum Bell on Saturday night he would no longer rotate series with Mike Bell. Tatum Bell reportedly won the job because of his determination to regain No. 1 RB status when he fell behind Mike Bell on the depth chart in the preseason. He continued to work on his inside running in practices, the area of his game that needed the most improvement. In the past, Tatum Bell had also seemed to fade later in games when given more touches. That was not the case against New England, when he continued to carry and perform effectively in the fourth quarter, when Shanahan gave him the opportunity to help the team protect its lead.
Bell promised to let the coaching staff know when he was tiring, and he came out in the third quarter for a brief spell, and then returned to action with no issues after Mike Bell filled in for four carries. "I know the coaches want to keep me as fresh as possible," Bell told the Post. "I plan on being a four-quarter player and a durable player."
As a regular starter for the team that often produces outstanding fantasy running backs, Bell is finally a must-start fantasy player.
RB Cutbacks: Corey Dillon is considered day-to-day with a neck stinger. It would be hard to imagine any injury that isn't major keeping Dillon from an opportunity to return to Cincinnati and hurt his former team. ? Derrick Blaylock could be inactive again this coming Sunday. ? Even though 49ers back Frank Gore (abdomen) is expected play against the Chiefs, Michael Robinson, who runs well inside, could start to steal goal-line carries from Gore on a regular basis.
Wide Receivers
Because of personal reasons, there is a chance Reggie Wayne could miss Sunday's game against the Jets. Brandon Stokley is battling an ankle problem, and the Colts might have to reach down on their depth chart and have other players step in at wide receiver for a week. Peyton Manning could involve his tight ends more in the passing game if Wayne sits out.
Aaron Moorehead would be in line to get the start if Wayne can't play, and he does know the Colts' system well and has made some big plays in the preseason in the past. But Moorehead, who had back surgery in the offseason, has caught only 17 regular season passes in his NFL career. He would strictly be a desperation option in any fantasy league.
Moorehead could get a few deep looks as a starter, but a Wayne absence could mean Manning would use tight ends Dallas Clark, Bryan Fletcher and Ben Utecht more in the passing game. Rookie RB Joseph Addai could also become busier as a pass-catcher. WR Patterns: With the Terrell Owens issues and Terry Glenn trying to play through a hand injury, Patrick Crayton could become a more important receiver for the Cowboys this week. ... Matt Jones (groin) was used mostly as a decoy last week, but he is expected to be in better health for Sunday's game against the Redskins.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

September 27, 2006

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Decoy No. 25?

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>In the preseason, some fantasy leaguers didn't think Reggie Bush would make a major impact this year. "He's just a rookie," the naysayers said. Some strong anti-Bush sentiments suggested he was the most overrated fantasy football player of the season. Many negative comments about Bush flowed into my e-mail box, and I saw many threads with similar views on several prominent fantasy football message boards.
After three games, Bush's numbers aren't great overall. Bush has scored only 23 points in ESPN.com leagues so far, a total that was bettered by three running backs in the third week alone. Yes, Bush's numbers have not been as good as I expected so far. I didn't expect him to blow up every week, but he still hasn't scored a touchdown. Bush is definitely not measuring up to standards in fantasy leagues so far. But that doesn't mean he's not an impact player, and that doesn't mean the trend of statistical mediocrity will continue.
While it isn't showing up in his fantasy numbers, Bush is already an impact player at the NFL level, and he's having a very positive effect on the rest of the New Orleans offense. It was obvious on Monday night that defensive coordinators fear Bush. Every time the Falcons thought he might have a chance to touch the ball, defenders converged in his direction. When Bush actually touched the ball, he drew a crowd, just as he had done in the first two games. Saints coach Sean Payton realizes that defenses already have a lot of respect for Bush, so he is getting the ball to other players who are generating less attention.
On no play was Bush's presence more important and obvious than a double reverse that led to an 11-yard TD run by wide receiver Devery Henderson in the first quarter. Bush, going left, drew three Atlanta linebackers to his side of the field, then handed the ball off to Henderson, who easily sprinted around the right side for the score. When Bush lined up as a receiver, the wideouts had a better chance of getting open. It all worked beautifully for the Saints, but the scheming still frustrated fantasy players overall. When Bush doesn't touch the ball, it gets spread around too much, and only WR Marques Colston (97 receiving yards on seven catches) had a somewhat impressive fantasy day, and that's only because most fantasy leaguers didn't know Colston's name a few months ago.
Drew Brees didn't throw a TD pass and Deuce McAllister didn't score. It's clear that the Saints are establishing a balanced attack that will frustrate fantasy leaguers, because you never know who might get the most catches, carries or scoring opportunities. But with Payton proving his team can beat you in different ways, Bush could start to draw less defensive attention by necessity, and better games should be ahead. The Falcons learned last night that corralling Reggie Bush isn't necessarily the way to contain the Saints. The Saints are 3-0 and upcoming opponents have more to worry about than Bush. Use the Week 2 win over Green Bay as another prime example. Two passing TDs for New Orleans, two rushing scores by McAllister and only 73 total yards for Bush. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Published reports first indicated Arizona rookie Matt Leinart was set to take over as the starter for veteran Kurt Warner, who has fumbled five times this season (losing two) while throwing four interceptions in the past two games. But Warner will indeed remain the starter for now. There have been rumors of a Warner hand injury, and fantasy owners might see this switch coming at some point, anyway. Warner has been an unfortunately regular injury risk in recent years, and he is often overrated when healthy based on past production and the talent level of his receivers. So how effective can Leinart be if he gets his chance to play? Leinart, who has been compared to Tom Brady, won't start putting up good numbers right away just because he has Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to work with. Certainly, the pair will help him keep defenses honest, and Leinart does have great poise and accuracy for a young QB. But he also has a shaky offensive line and Leinart isn't very mobile, and he could get sacked often if he holds onto the ball too long. Plus, there will now be more pressure on Edgerrin James to take pressure off Leinart, who does read defenses well, but has to prove he can play under constant pressure at the NFL level in real game situations. You can't bank on Leinart producing outstanding numbers just because of his supporting cast if he does play soon. No matter how good his WRs are, he first must show that inexperience won't be a deterrent.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Maurice Morris, RB, Seahawks
15 carries, 18 yards, 0 TD
He has never carried the ball more than 71 times in a season, and has just one rushing TD in five pro campaigns. Yet Maurice Morris will be the hottest free-agent pickup in fantasy football this week. But don't suddenly expect him to become a surefire fantasy starter just because he replaces Shaun Alexander. Morris is a change-of-pace type RB who could struggle at times, whereas Alexander is ultra-talented and productive, Mike Holmgren adjusted his pass-first West Coast offense to feature Alexander more prominently. Morris is speedy, and can tear off a few good gains on occasion. But he's not much of an inside runner and he won't stack up outstanding numbers with an increased workload. Morris is a better receiver than Alexander, and his pass-catching skills could help him pad his totals to the point where they are respectable every week Alexander is out. But don't expect him to get regular goal-line touches. Those carries could go to fullback Mack Strong. The Seattle offensive line has also been dealing with injuries and has blocked better for the pass than the run recently. So for now, Morris should only be used as a starter if you are desperate for a plug-in, not over a more established RB who is playing at least at a respectable level.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 27, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 7 New Articles Added 9/25/06)

September 27, 2006

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Decoy No. 25?

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>In the preseason, some fantasy leaguers didn't think Reggie Bush would make a major impact this year. "He's just a rookie," the naysayers said. Some strong anti-Bush sentiments suggested he was the most overrated fantasy football player of the season. Many negative comments about Bush flowed into my e-mail box, and I saw many threads with similar views on several prominent fantasy football message boards.
After three games, Bush's numbers aren't great overall. Bush has scored only 23 points in ESPN.com leagues so far, a total that was bettered by three running backs in the third week alone. Yes, Bush's numbers have not been as good as I expected so far. I didn't expect him to blow up every week, but he still hasn't scored a touchdown. Bush is definitely not measuring up to standards in fantasy leagues so far. But that doesn't mean he's not an impact player, and that doesn't mean the trend of statistical mediocrity will continue.
While it isn't showing up in his fantasy numbers, Bush is already an impact player at the NFL level, and he's having a very positive effect on the rest of the New Orleans offense. It was obvious on Monday night that defensive coordinators fear Bush. Every time the Falcons thought he might have a chance to touch the ball, defenders converged in his direction. When Bush actually touched the ball, he drew a crowd, just as he had done in the first two games. Saints coach Sean Payton realizes that defenses already have a lot of respect for Bush, so he is getting the ball to other players who are generating less attention.
On no play was Bush's presence more important and obvious than a double reverse that led to an 11-yard TD run by wide receiver Devery Henderson in the first quarter. Bush, going left, drew three Atlanta linebackers to his side of the field, then handed the ball off to Henderson, who easily sprinted around the right side for the score. When Bush lined up as a receiver, the wideouts had a better chance of getting open. It all worked beautifully for the Saints, but the scheming still frustrated fantasy players overall. When Bush doesn't touch the ball, it gets spread around too much, and only WR Marques Colston (97 receiving yards on seven catches) had a somewhat impressive fantasy day, and that's only because most fantasy leaguers didn't know Colston's name a few months ago.
Drew Brees didn't throw a TD pass and Deuce McAllister didn't score. It's clear that the Saints are establishing a balanced attack that will frustrate fantasy leaguers, because you never know who might get the most catches, carries or scoring opportunities. But with Payton proving his team can beat you in different ways, Bush could start to draw less defensive attention by necessity, and better games should be ahead. The Falcons learned last night that corralling Reggie Bush isn't necessarily the way to contain the Saints. The Saints are 3-0 and upcoming opponents have more to worry about than Bush. Use the Week 2 win over Green Bay as another prime example. Two passing TDs for New Orleans, two rushing scores by McAllister and only 73 total yards for Bush. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Published reports first indicated Arizona rookie Matt Leinart was set to take over as the starter for veteran Kurt Warner, who has fumbled five times this season (losing two) while throwing four interceptions in the past two games. But Warner will indeed remain the starter for now. There have been rumors of a Warner hand injury, and fantasy owners might see this switch coming at some point, anyway. Warner has been an unfortunately regular injury risk in recent years, and he is often overrated when healthy based on past production and the talent level of his receivers. So how effective can Leinart be if he gets his chance to play? Leinart, who has been compared to Tom Brady, won't start putting up good numbers right away just because he has Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to work with. Certainly, the pair will help him keep defenses honest, and Leinart does have great poise and accuracy for a young QB. But he also has a shaky offensive line and Leinart isn't very mobile, and he could get sacked often if he holds onto the ball too long. Plus, there will now be more pressure on Edgerrin James to take pressure off Leinart, who does read defenses well, but has to prove he can play under constant pressure at the NFL level in real game situations. You can't bank on Leinart producing outstanding numbers just because of his supporting cast if he does play soon. No matter how good his WRs are, he first must show that inexperience won't be a deterrent.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Maurice Morris, RB, Seahawks
15 carries, 18 yards, 0 TD
He has never carried the ball more than 71 times in a season, and has just one rushing TD in five pro campaigns. Yet Maurice Morris will be the hottest free-agent pickup in fantasy football this week. But don't suddenly expect him to become a surefire fantasy starter just because he replaces Shaun Alexander. Morris is a change-of-pace type RB who could struggle at times, whereas Alexander is ultra-talented and productive, Mike Holmgren adjusted his pass-first West Coast offense to feature Alexander more prominently. Morris is speedy, and can tear off a few good gains on occasion. But he's not much of an inside runner and he won't stack up outstanding numbers with an increased workload. Morris is a better receiver than Alexander, and his pass-catching skills could help him pad his totals to the point where they are respectable every week Alexander is out. But don't expect him to get regular goal-line touches. Those carries could go to fullback Mack Strong. The Seattle offensive line has also been dealing with injuries and has blocked better for the pass than the run recently. So for now, Morris should only be used as a starter if you are desperate for a plug-in, not over a more established RB who is playing at least at a respectable level.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Sep. 28, 2006, 2:39 PM

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Week 4: 10 things to watch

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN Fantasy Games





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Each week, I provide a list of 10 things I'm watching on game day, so you'll be prepared for some of the week's biggest developments in advance of them happening.
Ronnie Brown's workload. Thought I was going to bring up Daunte Culpepper here, didn't you? Sure, Culpepper's performance at Houston bears watching, but that's a cut-and-dry situation. If he capitalizes on the great matchup, like the Redskins' Mark Brunell did last week, then he's back to being a safe matchups play; if he doesn't, he earns a permanent spot on the "risky" fantasy pile. Of greater concern is Brown's performance, because Dolphins coach Nick Saban already has hinted that he wants to lighten his starter's workload, yet he went out and handed the second-year back 26 carries in Week 3. Brown, who hasn't scored since the season opener at Pittsburgh, in which he was a goal-line machine, really could use a standout effort in order to re-establish himself as the workhorse back that helped push him into the first round in most drafts this season. It's a fine matchup for him to snap his streak of nine consecutive games with double-digit carries in which he has failed to top 100 yards; he has averaged only 3.2 yards per carry in his past eight games overall. Long term, Brown's performance has an impact on Culpepper's fortunes, and vice versa, so this is an important game for them to both get back on track.
The Panthers' offense at full health. Steve Smith surprised the fantasy world with his healthy return to the Carolina lineup in Week 3, but one thing that didn't surprise me was that he stepped right back in as a standout receiver. (OK, he was so good, I was a bit surprised.) Ultimately, having Smith back at or close to full health makes the Carolina offense far, far deeper, and with him back, this should be the week Jake Delhomme and his teammates return to elite fantasy status. I'd say Sunday night is too late to buy-low on these guys, but at least we'll know by then how high this team's upside could be.
Kurt Warner's attempt to keep his job. Warner's going to rest comfortably on my bench facing a poor matchup in Atlanta on Sunday, but it's an important game for determining his long-term potential nonetheless. Rumors surrounding Matt Leinart overtaking Warner for his job were swirling all week, and Warner desperately needs to play smart football, avoiding costly turnovers and at least keeping the offense rolling even if his statistics aren't exciting. The numbers aren't important; it's how he plays that should be watched, because we're probably going to get our answer in the next two weeks whether "Warner 2006" is closer to "Warner 2005," who topped 300 passing yards five times, or "Warner 2004," who had lost his job to rookie Eli Manning by Week 11. For his receivers' sake, let's hope Warner winds up a lot closer to the former.
The Jets' running back-by-committee. Kevan Barlow is currently the "starter" for "Gang Green," but that hardly means he has that role locked down for the long haul. His eight games missed in five-plus seasons might not depict him as such, but Barlow is a bit brittle, meaning there should come a time when someone else has to step in and shoulder the load. Why not Leon Washington? He's speedy and elusive, and emerged with big-time sleeper potential with his seven-carry, 25-yard performance in Week 3. Washington should only continue to see his role in the offense expand, and with a strong next few weeks, he could wind up the starter and a nice late-season flex play. Keep an eye on him.
The 49ers' red-zone strategies. Now everyone's talking about Frank Gore's fumbling problems, now that he lost a fumble at the goal line in Week 3 that resulted in a 98-yard touchdown for the Eagles, a play that cost him a rib injury and four weeks of tight end Vernon Davis' season due to a broken bone in his leg. Gore is questionable for Sunday, but should probably play, yet it's anyone's guess whether San Francisco will ever trust him again in goal-line situations considering his health and troubles holding onto the ball. Michael Robinson, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound back, punched the ball into the end zone on 1-yard attempts in back-to-back possessions after Gore's fumble last week, bruising the Philadelphia defenders, and could continue to get looks in those situations to keep Gore fresh. A big week from Robinson in that area would be terrible news for Gore owners, so this is an important game for Gore to redeem himself.
The Cowboys' passing game without Terrell Owens. Though T.O. hasn't been officially ruled out -- or ruled in, for that matter -- of Sunday's great matchup against the Titans, I'm not counting on him playing. It'd be better for him to wait a week and ensure he's at full strength for the game in Philadelphia in Week 5, not that it's my call. Whatever Owens' status, the pressure will be on Drew Bledsoe and his receivers to step up their games, and really, Bledsoe, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten are clearly capable of getting the job done even without the No. 1 receiver in uniform. This is a good week for each of them to shine, demonstrating the underrated depth of the Dallas offense.
The Raiders facing their first favorable matchup. LaMont Jordan owners have been agonizing over his poor performance in the two games heading into the bye, but don't forget, those came against solid defenses in the Chargers and Ravens. Week 4 brings Jordan's and the entire Oakland offense's first game against a woeful defense, that of the Browns, and with a week to get themselves straight, the Raiders should look a lot better in this one. (OK, let's clarify that "a lot better" probably only means "respectable" in Oakland's case.) Andrew Walter gets the start at quarterback, and while he doesn't belong anywhere near a fantasy team, he's going to need to move the ball a lot more effectively than Aaron Brooks did to give guys like Jordan and Randy Moss any chance at consistent production. Another bad game here could put this team in the same class the Jets and Texans were in 2005, and you know how much of an impact those teams' woes had on the individual offensive players.
The Seahawks' offense without Shaun Alexander. For fantasy, the focus the past several days has been on Maurice Morris, thrust into a starting role due to Alexander's foot injury. But Morris might not do a thing for fantasy teams after all, as he's a guy to avoid at Chicago in Week 4, then Seattle has a bye in Week 5, then Alexander could be back as early as Week 6. Plus, the Seahawks lined up in four-receiver sets with regularity last Sunday, and they have one of the game's better quarterbacks in Matt Hasselbeck. In other words, while Alexander is out, this should be a pass-based offense, and there should, indeed, be enough throws to go around that Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch and perhaps even Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram could have some value. Don't be afraid of the receivers this week, and pay special attention to Branch, who's only getting more comfortable in Seattle.
Corey Dillon's health. The Patriots hate talking about their injured players, which is why Dillon's neck stinger gets little to no press. He's not on the injury report for Week 4, and he did participate in practice on Wednesday, but it's anyone's guess just how healthy he really is. Remember, besides his early departure from the Week 3 game against Denver, Dillon also was seen being tended to on the sidelines the week before. This is a 31-year-old running back with a shaky history in terms of health and a young, up-and-coming runner behind him on the depth chart. It's a longshot at best, but what if Laurence Maroney winds up this season's Larry Johnson, emerging as a high-upside midseason starter due to a Dillon long-term injury? (OK, let's call him "LJ lite," to be fair.) Donte' Stallworth's health. His absence in Week 3 was even more surprising than Steve Smith's presence, as Stallworth was probable for the Sunday afternoon game and then wound up a last-minute scratch. That might have been a smart move -- albeit a headache for fantasy -- as the Eagles clearly had enough depth on offense to play it safe with one of their most important receivers. "Headache" is the key word there, though, as Stallworth sure fit that description in his time in New Orleans, where he was wildly unpredictable and inconsistent from week to week. He's questionable for the Monday night game in Week 4, which makes him a shaky start, and as a result it's probably better for fantasy owners to reserve him and simply hope he can play and maintain his torrid early-season hot streak.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Sep. 28, 2006, 2:39 PM

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Week 4: 10 things to watch

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN Fantasy Games





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Each week, I provide a list of 10 things I'm watching on game day, so you'll be prepared for some of the week's biggest developments in advance of them happening.
Ronnie Brown's workload. Thought I was going to bring up Daunte Culpepper here, didn't you? Sure, Culpepper's performance at Houston bears watching, but that's a cut-and-dry situation. If he capitalizes on the great matchup, like the Redskins' Mark Brunell did last week, then he's back to being a safe matchups play; if he doesn't, he earns a permanent spot on the "risky" fantasy pile. Of greater concern is Brown's performance, because Dolphins coach Nick Saban already has hinted that he wants to lighten his starter's workload, yet he went out and handed the second-year back 26 carries in Week 3. Brown, who hasn't scored since the season opener at Pittsburgh, in which he was a goal-line machine, really could use a standout effort in order to re-establish himself as the workhorse back that helped push him into the first round in most drafts this season. It's a fine matchup for him to snap his streak of nine consecutive games with double-digit carries in which he has failed to top 100 yards; he has averaged only 3.2 yards per carry in his past eight games overall. Long term, Brown's performance has an impact on Culpepper's fortunes, and vice versa, so this is an important game for them to both get back on track.
The Panthers' offense at full health. Steve Smith surprised the fantasy world with his healthy return to the Carolina lineup in Week 3, but one thing that didn't surprise me was that he stepped right back in as a standout receiver. (OK, he was so good, I was a bit surprised.) Ultimately, having Smith back at or close to full health makes the Carolina offense far, far deeper, and with him back, this should be the week Jake Delhomme and his teammates return to elite fantasy status. I'd say Sunday night is too late to buy-low on these guys, but at least we'll know by then how high this team's upside could be.
Kurt Warner's attempt to keep his job. Warner's going to rest comfortably on my bench facing a poor matchup in Atlanta on Sunday, but it's an important game for determining his long-term potential nonetheless. Rumors surrounding Matt Leinart overtaking Warner for his job were swirling all week, and Warner desperately needs to play smart football, avoiding costly turnovers and at least keeping the offense rolling even if his statistics aren't exciting. The numbers aren't important; it's how he plays that should be watched, because we're probably going to get our answer in the next two weeks whether "Warner 2006" is closer to "Warner 2005," who topped 300 passing yards five times, or "Warner 2004," who had lost his job to rookie Eli Manning by Week 11. For his receivers' sake, let's hope Warner winds up a lot closer to the former.
The Jets' running back-by-committee. Kevan Barlow is currently the "starter" for "Gang Green," but that hardly means he has that role locked down for the long haul. His eight games missed in five-plus seasons might not depict him as such, but Barlow is a bit brittle, meaning there should come a time when someone else has to step in and shoulder the load. Why not Leon Washington? He's speedy and elusive, and emerged with big-time sleeper potential with his seven-carry, 25-yard performance in Week 3. Washington should only continue to see his role in the offense expand, and with a strong next few weeks, he could wind up the starter and a nice late-season flex play. Keep an eye on him.
The 49ers' red-zone strategies. Now everyone's talking about Frank Gore's fumbling problems, now that he lost a fumble at the goal line in Week 3 that resulted in a 98-yard touchdown for the Eagles, a play that cost him a rib injury and four weeks of tight end Vernon Davis' season due to a broken bone in his leg. Gore is questionable for Sunday, but should probably play, yet it's anyone's guess whether San Francisco will ever trust him again in goal-line situations considering his health and troubles holding onto the ball. Michael Robinson, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound back, punched the ball into the end zone on 1-yard attempts in back-to-back possessions after Gore's fumble last week, bruising the Philadelphia defenders, and could continue to get looks in those situations to keep Gore fresh. A big week from Robinson in that area would be terrible news for Gore owners, so this is an important game for Gore to redeem himself.
The Cowboys' passing game without Terrell Owens. Though T.O. hasn't been officially ruled out -- or ruled in, for that matter -- of Sunday's great matchup against the Titans, I'm not counting on him playing. It'd be better for him to wait a week and ensure he's at full strength for the game in Philadelphia in Week 5, not that it's my call. Whatever Owens' status, the pressure will be on Drew Bledsoe and his receivers to step up their games, and really, Bledsoe, Terry Glenn and Jason Witten are clearly capable of getting the job done even without the No. 1 receiver in uniform. This is a good week for each of them to shine, demonstrating the underrated depth of the Dallas offense.
The Raiders facing their first favorable matchup. LaMont Jordan owners have been agonizing over his poor performance in the two games heading into the bye, but don't forget, those came against solid defenses in the Chargers and Ravens. Week 4 brings Jordan's and the entire Oakland offense's first game against a woeful defense, that of the Browns, and with a week to get themselves straight, the Raiders should look a lot better in this one. (OK, let's clarify that "a lot better" probably only means "respectable" in Oakland's case.) Andrew Walter gets the start at quarterback, and while he doesn't belong anywhere near a fantasy team, he's going to need to move the ball a lot more effectively than Aaron Brooks did to give guys like Jordan and Randy Moss any chance at consistent production. Another bad game here could put this team in the same class the Jets and Texans were in 2005, and you know how much of an impact those teams' woes had on the individual offensive players.
The Seahawks' offense without Shaun Alexander. For fantasy, the focus the past several days has been on Maurice Morris, thrust into a starting role due to Alexander's foot injury. But Morris might not do a thing for fantasy teams after all, as he's a guy to avoid at Chicago in Week 4, then Seattle has a bye in Week 5, then Alexander could be back as early as Week 6. Plus, the Seahawks lined up in four-receiver sets with regularity last Sunday, and they have one of the game's better quarterbacks in Matt Hasselbeck. In other words, while Alexander is out, this should be a pass-based offense, and there should, indeed, be enough throws to go around that Darrell Jackson, Deion Branch and perhaps even Nate Burleson and Bobby Engram could have some value. Don't be afraid of the receivers this week, and pay special attention to Branch, who's only getting more comfortable in Seattle.
Corey Dillon's health. The Patriots hate talking about their injured players, which is why Dillon's neck stinger gets little to no press. He's not on the injury report for Week 4, and he did participate in practice on Wednesday, but it's anyone's guess just how healthy he really is. Remember, besides his early departure from the Week 3 game against Denver, Dillon also was seen being tended to on the sidelines the week before. This is a 31-year-old running back with a shaky history in terms of health and a young, up-and-coming runner behind him on the depth chart. It's a longshot at best, but what if Laurence Maroney winds up this season's Larry Johnson, emerging as a high-upside midseason starter due to a Dillon long-term injury? (OK, let's call him "LJ lite," to be fair.) Donte' Stallworth's health. His absence in Week 3 was even more surprising than Steve Smith's presence, as Stallworth was probable for the Sunday afternoon game and then wound up a last-minute scratch. That might have been a smart move -- albeit a headache for fantasy -- as the Eagles clearly had enough depth on offense to play it safe with one of their most important receivers. "Headache" is the key word there, though, as Stallworth sure fit that description in his time in New Orleans, where he was wildly unpredictable and inconsistent from week to week. He's questionable for the Monday night game in Week 4, which makes him a shaky start, and as a result it's probably better for fantasy owners to reserve him and simply hope he can play and maintain his torrid early-season hot streak.
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Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Sep. 28, 2006, 1:10 PM

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Cockcroft: Week 4 Statbook

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN Fantasy Games





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Each week, the FFL Statbook provides you with hot and cold players, historical statistics and trends to exploit, and weather reports as you consider your weekly player matchups.

Bye weeks: Broncos, Buccaneers, Giants, Steelers.
<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">RIDE THE HOT STREAK</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The players listed below -- three each at QB, RB and WR and one TE -- are performing well enough of late to be must-starts regardless of the matchups.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers (@KC): Among receivers with 5+ catches, he's 1st in yards per reception (23.4); he also ranks 5th in the league in receiving yards (281). He also has 21 catches for 404 yards and 2 TDs in his last four games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Reggie Bush, RB, Saints (@CAR): Though he's averaging 3.7 yards per carry and 11.3 rushing attempts per game, he's the game's most successful pass-catching RB so far, leading the position in receptions (19) while accumulating 264 scrimmage yards. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Warrick Dunn. RB, Falcons (ARI): He's 2nd in the league in rushing yards (310), which represents his best three-game total to begin a season. He also has 11 100-yard efforts and has averaged 93.9 rushing yards in his last 25 G (postseason incl.). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Braylon Edwards, WR, Browns (@OAK): He's coming off back-to-back 100-yard receiving efforts for the 1st time in his career, and is averaging 22.6 yards per catch. He also has 26 catches for 467 yards and 3 TDs in his last six regular-season games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (@KC): He's 3rd in the NFL in scrimmage yards (381) and is tied for the lead with 3 rushing TDs. He also has 521 rushing yards, 706 scrimmage yards, 5 TDs and a 4.5 yards-per-carry average in his last six games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Andre Johnson, WR, Texans (MIA): He led all receivers in receptions (11) and receiving yards (152) in Week 3, and is 3rd in the league in receptions (20) and receiving yards (207). He also has 74 receptions for 921 yards and 3 TDs in his last 12 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles (GB): He leads the NFL in passing yards (960, 320.0 per game) and yards per pass (8.5). He also has 11 300-yard efforts, has averaged 269.2 passing yards with 58 TDs, 18 INTs in his last 29 G (postseason incl.). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Ravens defense (SD): Baltimore has allowed only 20 points combined, second-fewest in the NFL (Chargers, 7), and ranks second in total defense with 197.3 yards per game allowed (Chargers, 173.5). Baltimore is also 1st in interceptions (7). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles (GB): He's second among tight ends in receptions (16) and third in receiving yards (186), has 1 TD, and has 55 receptions for 574 yards and 4 TDs in his last 11 games in which QB Donovan McNabb was the Eagles' starter. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings (@BUF): He leads the NFL in carries (75), and has averaged 91.7 rushing yards with 1 TD in three games. In his last 8 starts, he has 173 carries for 701 yards and 2 TDs, and 26 receptions for 165 yards. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles (GB): He leads the NFL with in scrimmage yards (420) and total TDs (5), has eight 100-yard scrimmage efforts in his last 10 starts, and has averaged 113.0 scrimmage yards with 8 total TDs in those 10 starts. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Browns (@OAK): He leads all tight ends in both receptions (19) and receiving yards (197) and has one touchdown, after having finished the preseason with seven receptions for 59 yards in four games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Bush might not be offering his fantasy owners the numbers they expected as a runner, but he's catching enough passes to be as valuable as a No. 2 fantasy receiver. That's more than enough value to be a useful No. 2 RB or flex option in most weeks, even facing a matchup like the one in Carolina. ... With Reuben Droughns not 100 percent, the Browns will look to air it out in Oakland this week, making both Edwards and Winslow excellent fantasy starts. Even QB Charlie Frye, who has a rushing TD in each of his three games this season, is worth a bye-week fill-in look if you're thin at the position. ... Both Johnson and fellow WR Eric Moulds should be in for big games against the Dolphins' soft secondary. ... McNabb threw for a career-best 464 passing yards and tied a personal best with five touchdowns the last time he faced the Packers, last Dec. 5. He's shaping up as the No. 1 QB play in fantasy leagues for Week 4. ... I'm expecting a low-scoring affair between the Ravens and Chargers this Sunday, so while Baltimore made the hot list, San Diego's defense is also worth fantasy attention in most leagues. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">AVOID THE COLD SPELL</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The players listed below -- three each at QB, RB and WR and one TE -- have struggled enough recently that they should be avoided whenever possible.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Cedric Benson, RB, Bears (SEA): He has only 21 carries for 59 yards (2.8 average) with 0 TDs in 2 G this season, and was inactive in Week 3. For his NFL career, he now has 88 carries for 331 yards (3.8 average) and no TDs in 11 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Chris Brown, RB, Titans (DAL): He has averaged only 36.5 rushing yards per game and 3.3 yards per carry in 2 G this season. He has also gone 17 consecutive G with fewer than 100 rushing yards, averaging 54.4 yards per game during that span. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Kerry Collins, QB, Titans (DAL): He has completed only 46.7 percent of his pass attempts (42-for-90), and has averaged 183.0 passing yards per game with 1 TD. His 6 interceptions rank him 2nd in the league, and he has been sacked four times. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Kevin Curtis, WR, Rams (DET): He has only four receptions for 20 yards (5.0 average) and 0 TDs in 3 G, and has been targeted just eight times during that span. He also has only 14 receptions for 80 yards (5.7 average) and 0 TDs in his last 8 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Reuben Droughns, RB, Browns (@OAK): Among running backs with 20+ carries this season, he ranks third-worst with 2.4 yards per carry. He has also averaged 52.9 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry with 1 TD in his last 8 starts. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Eddie Kennison, WR, Chiefs (SF): He has only three receptions for 53 yards (17.7 average) and 0 TDs in 2 G, and has been targeted just seven times during that span. He also has only 15 receptions for 244 yards (16.3 average) and 0 TDs in his last 5 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Brandon Lloyd, WR, Redskins (JAC): He has only three receptions for 26 yards (8.7 average) and 0 TDs in 3 G, and has been targeted just 10 times during that span. He also has only 21 receptions for 212 yards (10.1 average) and 1 TD in his last 9 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Patriots defense (@CIN): New England has allowed 51 points combined in three games, and ranks 20th in the NFL in total defense (326.0 yards per game). The Patriots also have only one turnover (an interception), the fewest of any team with 3 G so far. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Dominic Rhodes, RB, Colts (@NYJ): Though he has 2 TDs in 3 G, his 2.6 yards per carry average is fifth-worst among running backs with 20+ carries. He has also averaged only 3.1 yards per carry with 4 TDs in his last 10 G with at least 5+ carries. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Ben Troupe, TE, Titans (DAL): He has only three receptions for 64 yards (21.3 average) and 0 TDs in 3 G, and has been targeted just 13 times during that span. He also has been held without a catch in three of his last 10 games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals (@ATL): He has averaged a respectable 262.7 passing yards per game, completing 64.1 percent of his pass attempts for 5 TDs, but turnovers have been a problem. He has 4 interceptions and 8 fumbles (2 lost) in 3 G this season. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Roddy White, WR, Falcons (ARI): He has only two receptions for 23 yards (11.5 average) and 0 TDs in 3 G, and has been targeted just 10 times during that span. He also has only 10 receptions for 120 yards (12.0 average) and 1 TD in his last 6 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Big surprise, three Titans made the cold list. Tennessee's reeling offense might as well turn the reins over to rookie QB Vince Young, since he can't be much worse than Collins has been to date. Collins, Brown, Troupe and their teammates face a challenging matchup against Dallas on Sunday, one that should be at least as tough for them to rack up fantasy points as the Week 3 game against the Dolphins. ... I'd try to avoid any defense facing the Bengals, and this week, the Patriots draw the assignment. Cincinnati-New England has all the makings of a shootout. ... Curtis' stock has slipped as St. Louis has shifted its attention to the run this season. He might look like an appealing No. 3 or 4 fantasy WR based on the matchup, but WRs Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce will probably still get the majority of the passes thrown their way. Look to Bruce well before considering Curtis. ... Warner has a great track record in his career against the Falcons, winning all six of his starts and passing for three or more scores in five of those six games, but this game should bring that hot streak to an end. He has had nothing but trouble playing behind the shoddy Arizona offensive line this year and with rumors that QB Matt Leinart is getting close to overtaking him for his job, it's better to try to avoid him in Week 4. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">HISTORY LESSON</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The following players have tremendous recent track records against their scheduled opponents, making them more appealing fantasy options for this week.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Marc Bulger, QB, Rams (DET): He's 21-4 in his career as a starter at home, averaging 267.2 passing yards with 44 TDs and 21 interceptions. He has also averaged 267.3 passing yards with 18 TDs and 7 interceptions in his last 12 home G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Daunte Culpepper, QB, Dolphins (@HOU): He passed for 396 yards, 5 TDs and 0 interceptions in his only career start against the Texans (10/10/04). However, he has also averaged 228.2 passing yards with 16 TDs and 18 INT in his last 15 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Brett Favre, QB, Packers (@PHI): He's 5-2 with a 107.1 passer rating in 7 G on Monday Night Football since 2001, with 18 TDs and 4 interceptions in those contests. Favre also has 680 passing yards, 6 TDs and 1 interception in his last 3 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals (NE): He had 24 carries for 89 yards and two receptions for 25 yards in his only career game against the Patriots (12/12/04). He also has 117 carries for 592 yards (5.1 average) and 7 TDs in his last 5 home G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders (CLE): He rushed for a career-high 132 yards on 25 carries and had 5 catches for 40 yards in his only career start vs. the Browns (12/9/05). He also has 256 scrimmage yards in two career games against the Browns. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Deuce McAllister, RB, Saints (@CAR): He has 4 100-yard rushing efforts, 159 carries for 639 yards and 5 TDs and 17 receptions for 155 yards in 7 career starts vs. the Panthers. He has also scored 22 of his 36 career TDs on the road, in 34 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Willis McGahee, RB, Bills (MIN): He has 5 100-yard rushing efforts and has averaged 91.4 rushing yards per G and 4.3 yards per carry with 10 TDs in 8 career G vs. NFC foes. He also has 9 100-yard efforts with 11 TDs in his last 15 G at home. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Eric Moulds, WR, Texans (MIA): He went without a catch in his last game vs. the Dolphins (12/04/05), but had 5+ catches and 50+ receiving yards in each of 3 G against them before that. He also has 12 TDs in 21 career G vs. the Bills (postseason incl.) </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Chad Pennington, QB, Jets (IND): He had a maximum 158.3 passer rating in his last start vs. the Colts (11/16/03), with 219 passing yards and 3 TDs. He has 441 passing yards, 6 TDs and 0 interceptions in 2 career G vs. the Colts (postseason incl.). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Steve Smith, WR, Panthers (NO): He has 23 receptions for 323 yards and 3 TDs in his last 3 G vs. the Saints. He has also averaged 5.7 receptions and 78.5 receiving yards with 7 TDs in his last 14 home G, and 6.5-98.5-12 numbers in his last 17 G overall. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: I'm giving Culpepper one more week to prove himself as a useful matchups option, as it's quite the matchup for him in Houston. Remember, Washington's Mark Brunell strolled into Houston a week ago and set an NFL record by completing 22 consecutive pass attempts in a game, while finishing with 261 passing yards and a TD. At the time, Brunell hadn't done a thing to earn his fantasy owners' trust in nearly a full calendar year, which is very much the situation Culpepper is in now. ... Your decision on playing Favre should be based entirely on whether interceptions are penalized in your league's scoring system. I know he has a tremendous track record on Monday Night Football, but that Philadelphia defense could give him fits, leading to a potentially disastrous game in terms of interceptions. He could end up with 300-plus yards and three scores as he could finish with 200 yards, no TDs and three interceptions. Favre is a high-risk/high-reward player for Week 4. ... Play Jordan with confidence as your No. 2 RB. Oakland's giving QB Andrew Walter his first start, and shouldn't rely too much on the youngster as a result. Jordan should be the Raiders' offensive focus, and it's a fine matchup for him. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">WEATHER REPORT</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">Up-to-the-minute conditions can be found on The Weather Channel's Web site.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rain in the forecast (40 percent chance or worse): Seahawks at Bears (70 percent), Patriots at Bengals (40) and Packers at Eagles (40). Wind could also reach 15 mpg in Seahawks at Bears, which could have a mild impact on the game. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Cold temperatures (40 degrees or lower): No games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Hot temperatures (80 degrees or higher): Dolphins at Texans could be in the low 80s. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Weatherproof games (safest playing conditions): Cardinals at Falcons (Georgia Dome), Dolphins at Texans (Reliant Stadium) and Lions at Rams (Edward Jones Dome). </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">KICKERS IN DOMES</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">Since kickers are as a whole fairly unpredictable, weather can play a big part in determining which ones to use each week. Those who kick indoors are safest from the elements and therefore least likely to hurt you, making the names below more attractive plays. Statistics listed are career numbers indoors, unless otherwise noted (G: games, FGpct: field-goal percentage; XPTpct: extra-point percentage; ppg: points per game).</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Morten Andersen, Falcons (ARI): 90 G, 80.6 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 7.04 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Kris Brown, Texans (MIA): 25 G, 80.0 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 5.08 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jason Hanson, Lions (@STL): 119 G, 83.8 FGpct, 99.2 XPTpct, 6.79 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Olindo Mare, Dolphins (@HOU): 11 G, 82.4 FGpct, 95.2 XPTpct, 5.64 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Neil Rackers, Cardinals (@ATL): 13 G, 94.7 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 6.08 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jeff Wilkins, Rams (DET): 94 G, 83.5 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 7.59 ppg</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Sep. 28, 2006, 1:10 PM

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Cockcroft: Week 4 Statbook

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN Fantasy Games





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Each week, the FFL Statbook provides you with hot and cold players, historical statistics and trends to exploit, and weather reports as you consider your weekly player matchups.

Bye weeks: Broncos, Buccaneers, Giants, Steelers.
<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">RIDE THE HOT STREAK</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The players listed below -- three each at QB, RB and WR and one TE -- are performing well enough of late to be must-starts regardless of the matchups.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers (@KC): Among receivers with 5+ catches, he's 1st in yards per reception (23.4); he also ranks 5th in the league in receiving yards (281). He also has 21 catches for 404 yards and 2 TDs in his last four games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Reggie Bush, RB, Saints (@CAR): Though he's averaging 3.7 yards per carry and 11.3 rushing attempts per game, he's the game's most successful pass-catching RB so far, leading the position in receptions (19) while accumulating 264 scrimmage yards. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Warrick Dunn. RB, Falcons (ARI): He's 2nd in the league in rushing yards (310), which represents his best three-game total to begin a season. He also has 11 100-yard efforts and has averaged 93.9 rushing yards in his last 25 G (postseason incl.). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Braylon Edwards, WR, Browns (@OAK): He's coming off back-to-back 100-yard receiving efforts for the 1st time in his career, and is averaging 22.6 yards per catch. He also has 26 catches for 467 yards and 3 TDs in his last six regular-season games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Frank Gore, RB, 49ers (@KC): He's 3rd in the NFL in scrimmage yards (381) and is tied for the lead with 3 rushing TDs. He also has 521 rushing yards, 706 scrimmage yards, 5 TDs and a 4.5 yards-per-carry average in his last six games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Andre Johnson, WR, Texans (MIA): He led all receivers in receptions (11) and receiving yards (152) in Week 3, and is 3rd in the league in receptions (20) and receiving yards (207). He also has 74 receptions for 921 yards and 3 TDs in his last 12 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles (GB): He leads the NFL in passing yards (960, 320.0 per game) and yards per pass (8.5). He also has 11 300-yard efforts, has averaged 269.2 passing yards with 58 TDs, 18 INTs in his last 29 G (postseason incl.). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Ravens defense (SD): Baltimore has allowed only 20 points combined, second-fewest in the NFL (Chargers, 7), and ranks second in total defense with 197.3 yards per game allowed (Chargers, 173.5). Baltimore is also 1st in interceptions (7). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles (GB): He's second among tight ends in receptions (16) and third in receiving yards (186), has 1 TD, and has 55 receptions for 574 yards and 4 TDs in his last 11 games in which QB Donovan McNabb was the Eagles' starter. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings (@BUF): He leads the NFL in carries (75), and has averaged 91.7 rushing yards with 1 TD in three games. In his last 8 starts, he has 173 carries for 701 yards and 2 TDs, and 26 receptions for 165 yards. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles (GB): He leads the NFL with in scrimmage yards (420) and total TDs (5), has eight 100-yard scrimmage efforts in his last 10 starts, and has averaged 113.0 scrimmage yards with 8 total TDs in those 10 starts. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Browns (@OAK): He leads all tight ends in both receptions (19) and receiving yards (197) and has one touchdown, after having finished the preseason with seven receptions for 59 yards in four games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Bush might not be offering his fantasy owners the numbers they expected as a runner, but he's catching enough passes to be as valuable as a No. 2 fantasy receiver. That's more than enough value to be a useful No. 2 RB or flex option in most weeks, even facing a matchup like the one in Carolina. ... With Reuben Droughns not 100 percent, the Browns will look to air it out in Oakland this week, making both Edwards and Winslow excellent fantasy starts. Even QB Charlie Frye, who has a rushing TD in each of his three games this season, is worth a bye-week fill-in look if you're thin at the position. ... Both Johnson and fellow WR Eric Moulds should be in for big games against the Dolphins' soft secondary. ... McNabb threw for a career-best 464 passing yards and tied a personal best with five touchdowns the last time he faced the Packers, last Dec. 5. He's shaping up as the No. 1 QB play in fantasy leagues for Week 4. ... I'm expecting a low-scoring affair between the Ravens and Chargers this Sunday, so while Baltimore made the hot list, San Diego's defense is also worth fantasy attention in most leagues. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">AVOID THE COLD SPELL</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The players listed below -- three each at QB, RB and WR and one TE -- have struggled enough recently that they should be avoided whenever possible.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Cedric Benson, RB, Bears (SEA): He has only 21 carries for 59 yards (2.8 average) with 0 TDs in 2 G this season, and was inactive in Week 3. For his NFL career, he now has 88 carries for 331 yards (3.8 average) and no TDs in 11 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Chris Brown, RB, Titans (DAL): He has averaged only 36.5 rushing yards per game and 3.3 yards per carry in 2 G this season. He has also gone 17 consecutive G with fewer than 100 rushing yards, averaging 54.4 yards per game during that span. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Kerry Collins, QB, Titans (DAL): He has completed only 46.7 percent of his pass attempts (42-for-90), and has averaged 183.0 passing yards per game with 1 TD. His 6 interceptions rank him 2nd in the league, and he has been sacked four times. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Kevin Curtis, WR, Rams (DET): He has only four receptions for 20 yards (5.0 average) and 0 TDs in 3 G, and has been targeted just eight times during that span. He also has only 14 receptions for 80 yards (5.7 average) and 0 TDs in his last 8 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Reuben Droughns, RB, Browns (@OAK): Among running backs with 20+ carries this season, he ranks third-worst with 2.4 yards per carry. He has also averaged 52.9 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry with 1 TD in his last 8 starts. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Eddie Kennison, WR, Chiefs (SF): He has only three receptions for 53 yards (17.7 average) and 0 TDs in 2 G, and has been targeted just seven times during that span. He also has only 15 receptions for 244 yards (16.3 average) and 0 TDs in his last 5 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Brandon Lloyd, WR, Redskins (JAC): He has only three receptions for 26 yards (8.7 average) and 0 TDs in 3 G, and has been targeted just 10 times during that span. He also has only 21 receptions for 212 yards (10.1 average) and 1 TD in his last 9 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Patriots defense (@CIN): New England has allowed 51 points combined in three games, and ranks 20th in the NFL in total defense (326.0 yards per game). The Patriots also have only one turnover (an interception), the fewest of any team with 3 G so far. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Dominic Rhodes, RB, Colts (@NYJ): Though he has 2 TDs in 3 G, his 2.6 yards per carry average is fifth-worst among running backs with 20+ carries. He has also averaged only 3.1 yards per carry with 4 TDs in his last 10 G with at least 5+ carries. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Ben Troupe, TE, Titans (DAL): He has only three receptions for 64 yards (21.3 average) and 0 TDs in 3 G, and has been targeted just 13 times during that span. He also has been held without a catch in three of his last 10 games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals (@ATL): He has averaged a respectable 262.7 passing yards per game, completing 64.1 percent of his pass attempts for 5 TDs, but turnovers have been a problem. He has 4 interceptions and 8 fumbles (2 lost) in 3 G this season. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Roddy White, WR, Falcons (ARI): He has only two receptions for 23 yards (11.5 average) and 0 TDs in 3 G, and has been targeted just 10 times during that span. He also has only 10 receptions for 120 yards (12.0 average) and 1 TD in his last 6 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: Big surprise, three Titans made the cold list. Tennessee's reeling offense might as well turn the reins over to rookie QB Vince Young, since he can't be much worse than Collins has been to date. Collins, Brown, Troupe and their teammates face a challenging matchup against Dallas on Sunday, one that should be at least as tough for them to rack up fantasy points as the Week 3 game against the Dolphins. ... I'd try to avoid any defense facing the Bengals, and this week, the Patriots draw the assignment. Cincinnati-New England has all the makings of a shootout. ... Curtis' stock has slipped as St. Louis has shifted its attention to the run this season. He might look like an appealing No. 3 or 4 fantasy WR based on the matchup, but WRs Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce will probably still get the majority of the passes thrown their way. Look to Bruce well before considering Curtis. ... Warner has a great track record in his career against the Falcons, winning all six of his starts and passing for three or more scores in five of those six games, but this game should bring that hot streak to an end. He has had nothing but trouble playing behind the shoddy Arizona offensive line this year and with rumors that QB Matt Leinart is getting close to overtaking him for his job, it's better to try to avoid him in Week 4. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">HISTORY LESSON</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">The following players have tremendous recent track records against their scheduled opponents, making them more appealing fantasy options for this week.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Marc Bulger, QB, Rams (DET): He's 21-4 in his career as a starter at home, averaging 267.2 passing yards with 44 TDs and 21 interceptions. He has also averaged 267.3 passing yards with 18 TDs and 7 interceptions in his last 12 home G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Daunte Culpepper, QB, Dolphins (@HOU): He passed for 396 yards, 5 TDs and 0 interceptions in his only career start against the Texans (10/10/04). However, he has also averaged 228.2 passing yards with 16 TDs and 18 INT in his last 15 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Brett Favre, QB, Packers (@PHI): He's 5-2 with a 107.1 passer rating in 7 G on Monday Night Football since 2001, with 18 TDs and 4 interceptions in those contests. Favre also has 680 passing yards, 6 TDs and 1 interception in his last 3 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals (NE): He had 24 carries for 89 yards and two receptions for 25 yards in his only career game against the Patriots (12/12/04). He also has 117 carries for 592 yards (5.1 average) and 7 TDs in his last 5 home G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders (CLE): He rushed for a career-high 132 yards on 25 carries and had 5 catches for 40 yards in his only career start vs. the Browns (12/9/05). He also has 256 scrimmage yards in two career games against the Browns. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Deuce McAllister, RB, Saints (@CAR): He has 4 100-yard rushing efforts, 159 carries for 639 yards and 5 TDs and 17 receptions for 155 yards in 7 career starts vs. the Panthers. He has also scored 22 of his 36 career TDs on the road, in 34 G. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Willis McGahee, RB, Bills (MIN): He has 5 100-yard rushing efforts and has averaged 91.4 rushing yards per G and 4.3 yards per carry with 10 TDs in 8 career G vs. NFC foes. He also has 9 100-yard efforts with 11 TDs in his last 15 G at home. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Eric Moulds, WR, Texans (MIA): He went without a catch in his last game vs. the Dolphins (12/04/05), but had 5+ catches and 50+ receiving yards in each of 3 G against them before that. He also has 12 TDs in 21 career G vs. the Bills (postseason incl.) </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Chad Pennington, QB, Jets (IND): He had a maximum 158.3 passer rating in his last start vs. the Colts (11/16/03), with 219 passing yards and 3 TDs. He has 441 passing yards, 6 TDs and 0 interceptions in 2 career G vs. the Colts (postseason incl.). </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Steve Smith, WR, Panthers (NO): He has 23 receptions for 323 yards and 3 TDs in his last 3 G vs. the Saints. He has also averaged 5.7 receptions and 78.5 receiving yards with 7 TDs in his last 14 home G, and 6.5-98.5-12 numbers in his last 17 G overall. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>TRISTAN'S TAKE: I'm giving Culpepper one more week to prove himself as a useful matchups option, as it's quite the matchup for him in Houston. Remember, Washington's Mark Brunell strolled into Houston a week ago and set an NFL record by completing 22 consecutive pass attempts in a game, while finishing with 261 passing yards and a TD. At the time, Brunell hadn't done a thing to earn his fantasy owners' trust in nearly a full calendar year, which is very much the situation Culpepper is in now. ... Your decision on playing Favre should be based entirely on whether interceptions are penalized in your league's scoring system. I know he has a tremendous track record on Monday Night Football, but that Philadelphia defense could give him fits, leading to a potentially disastrous game in terms of interceptions. He could end up with 300-plus yards and three scores as he could finish with 200 yards, no TDs and three interceptions. Favre is a high-risk/high-reward player for Week 4. ... Play Jordan with confidence as your No. 2 RB. Oakland's giving QB Andrew Walter his first start, and shouldn't rely too much on the youngster as a result. Jordan should be the Raiders' offensive focus, and it's a fine matchup for him. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">WEATHER REPORT</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">Up-to-the-minute conditions can be found on The Weather Channel's Web site.</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Rain in the forecast (40 percent chance or worse): Seahawks at Bears (70 percent), Patriots at Bengals (40) and Packers at Eagles (40). Wind could also reach 15 mpg in Seahawks at Bears, which could have a mild impact on the game. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Cold temperatures (40 degrees or lower): No games. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Hot temperatures (80 degrees or higher): Dolphins at Texans could be in the low 80s. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Weatherproof games (safest playing conditions): Cardinals at Falcons (Georgia Dome), Dolphins at Texans (Reliant Stadium) and Lions at Rams (Edward Jones Dome). </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

<TABLE style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c9c9c9" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="COLOR: white; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #2969ad"><TD width="100%">KICKERS IN DOMES</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #acacac"><TD width="100%">Since kickers are as a whole fairly unpredictable, weather can play a big part in determining which ones to use each week. Those who kick indoors are safest from the elements and therefore least likely to hurt you, making the names below more attractive plays. Statistics listed are career numbers indoors, unless otherwise noted (G: games, FGpct: field-goal percentage; XPTpct: extra-point percentage; ppg: points per game).</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Morten Andersen, Falcons (ARI): 90 G, 80.6 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 7.04 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Kris Brown, Texans (MIA): 25 G, 80.0 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 5.08 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Jason Hanson, Lions (@STL): 119 G, 83.8 FGpct, 99.2 XPTpct, 6.79 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Olindo Mare, Dolphins (@HOU): 11 G, 82.4 FGpct, 95.2 XPTpct, 5.64 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: white"><TD>Neil Rackers, Cardinals (@ATL): 13 G, 94.7 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 6.08 ppg. </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dedede"><TD>Jeff Wilkins, Rams (DET): 94 G, 83.5 FGpct, 100.0 XPTpct, 7.59 ppg</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Sep. 28, 2006, 3:33 PM

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Week 4: Engel's Mailbag

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games





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Chris, Summit, N.J.: Even though I'm a full-fledged believer in the Madden jinx, I just could not pass on Shaun Alexander with my third overall pick this season. Now that he's hurt, I've been offered a deal. I would trade Carson Palmer and DeAngelo Williams for Tom Brady and Tiki Barber. My other quarterback is Marc Bulger, and my other running backs are Jamal Lewis, Willie Parker and Kevan Barlow. I'm thinking Palmer is an elite QB, the downfall of the Patriots begins this year, and Brady struggles without any true go-to receivers.
Engel: First, I would consider your scoring system. If you only get four points for a passing TD, it's not a huge downgrade from Palmer to Brady. Plus, Brady is such a good passer, that in many weeks, he will still post good numbers with what receivers he has. Some QBs don't need outstanding receivers to play well, and Brady is one of them. Deion Branch has missed time in the past with injuries, and David Givens was never dependable. So he has dealt with challenges at receiver before. In a league where passing TDs count for six points, though, I'd consider keeping Palmer more, but you still get a solid QB in return and a top-level RB. When Alexander returns, you can pair him with Barber and deal Brady and possibly Parker for an upgrade at QB if Brady does falter a bit. At the very least, I expect Brady to be respectable and he'll still have trade value down the line. I'd make the deal, because you end up with a great starting RB duo when Alexander returns, and Barber and Parker are a very formidable pair until then. You don't take a major hit at QB and can always use your RB depth to make a trade later on. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER width="8" type="block" height="1"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]The FFL Mailbag has the answers you need! Click here to send FFL questions and comments on players and trends and Scott may answer it in his next mailbag. [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Jeff Nicholson, Seymour, Ind.: A team in my league offered me an injured Shaun Alexander for Kevin Jones. I have already picked up Maurice Morris off free agency. Should I make the deal for Alexander while Kevin Jones' stock is somewhat high?
Engel: Jones' stock is never high, even in a league of 14 teams or larger. But it's at a respectable level right now, and any time you can get Alexander, especially at such a bargain price, you have to go for it. Alexander's injury isn't a season-ending one, and you're looking at a major upgrade in quality when Alexander returns. I'm not crazy about Morris, but I don't think Jones will outperform him by much, if at all, while the two are both starting. I'd definitely make the deal, but maintain good depth at the RB position otherwise, because you could get into a situation soon where Alexander might be a game-time decision and you won't know whether to start him or Morris. Acquiring another option who isn't a Seahawk RB is a good move in case you are not sure which one to start at some point.
Donny, San Mateo, Calif.: I have multiple players, including Tiki Barber and Plaxico Burress, on a bye. Which two do I start: from Frank Gore, Julius Jones and Laurence Maroney? I am leaning towards Gore and Jones due to the matchups, but with the way Willie Parker shredded Cincinnati's run defense, I am not so sure. Also, what are your thoughts on Reggie Williams?
Engel: I do like Jones this week, but you are very observant to note the tendencies of Cincinnati's defense. While the front seven is aggressive and the unit as a whole makes many big plays, there are also many times when the defenders overpursue or take questionable angles and miss tackles. Many RBs, especially speedier ones, are good starts against the Bengals. Maroney is a good combination of vision, quickness and strength who should present a lot of problems for the Bengals. Corey Dillon will no doubt be primed to face his former team, and some of that intensity should rub off on Maroney. So I would start Maroney over Jones. While Gore has an abdomen issue, he is expected to play and he's simply been better than Jones overall so far, even with his fumbling issues. I'd pencil in Gore and Maroney for now, but keep Jones ready in case Gore is downgraded. As for Williams, I think he is more reliable this year and is dropping the ball less and handling big hits better than he has done in the past. He's a good matchup-type starter right now, and I'd consider starting him against a vulnerable Washington secondary this week. Of course, that also depends on who your other options are, as Williams shouldn't be used over more established, higher-ranked wide receivers yet. I wouldn't use him over, say Darrell Jackson or Donald Driver.
Javier, Lodi, Calif.: I'm thinking about grabbing Eric Johnson off free agency. Should I drop Benjamin Watson, or Randy McMichael to get him? Both have been disappointing so far.
Engel: In the past, I have advised against carrying two tight ends, because many times you could just stick with one and pick up another just for one-week bye use. But even some of the best, such as McMichael, and guys with predicted upside like Watson and Ben Troupe haven't been dependable. So carrying two to play the matchups isn't a bad idea. But no tight end is going to give you outstanding production regularly, and Johnson is no exception. He's a good add, but Watson should still have a few good outings ahead, and I believe McMichael should improve. Johnson is not an upgrade over who you have right now, especially with only one good week of stats so far this year. I'd stick with who you have, but Johnson is a good add for other owners who don't have a Watson type or only have McMichael and need an alternative without dropping him outright.
Bill, Hartford, Conn.: I have Brian Westbrook and was thrilled by his monster day last week. However, I am very worried about his injury history. Which running backs could I go after in a one-for-one trade, or do you think I should hold onto him? Some of the RBs I would consider would be Tiki Barber, Warrick Dunn, Rudi Johnson, Larry Johnson or Willie Parker.
Engel: I think you should stop being overly concerned about Westbrook when he has proven two weeks in a row that being listed as questionable doesn't mean the same thing for him that it does for other players. For further peace of mind, just do whatever it takes to make sure you have Correll Buckhalter on your roster as insurance. Some other owners might have the same concerns as you, and it would be difficult to get Barber, Rudi or Larry Johnson in a straight-up trade. That deal helps only you and you would at least have to throw in another decent player to get another owner to consider it. Dunn is a bit of a downgrade and Parker's value is high right now. He also might be difficult to acquire in a one-for-one and he should be less consistent than Westbrook if Westbrook continues to play regularly.
Paul Grahn, Santa Rosa, Calif.: I have Donovan McNabb as my QB and L.J. Smith and Chris Cooley as my TEs. I am surprised at Smith's performances, but think that Cooley should start producing soon. When should make the switch to Cooley, if I should at all? Engel: I'm not surprised at all by what a healthy Smith can do, as he does have the pure talent to be one of the best tight ends in fantasy football. He has continued to improve, as he is becoming more of a frequent regular target, whereas he just seemed to be a goal-line guy and occasional target on key downs earlier in his career. Cooley is good to keep on your roster in case his production does improve, but he certainly hasn't earned the right to start over Smith this season. It will take a slump by Smith and more than one good performance in consecutive games from Cooley to recommend a switch
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Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Sep. 28, 2006, 3:33 PM

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Week 4: Engel's Mailbag

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Chris, Summit, N.J.: Even though I'm a full-fledged believer in the Madden jinx, I just could not pass on Shaun Alexander with my third overall pick this season. Now that he's hurt, I've been offered a deal. I would trade Carson Palmer and DeAngelo Williams for Tom Brady and Tiki Barber. My other quarterback is Marc Bulger, and my other running backs are Jamal Lewis, Willie Parker and Kevan Barlow. I'm thinking Palmer is an elite QB, the downfall of the Patriots begins this year, and Brady struggles without any true go-to receivers.
Engel: First, I would consider your scoring system. If you only get four points for a passing TD, it's not a huge downgrade from Palmer to Brady. Plus, Brady is such a good passer, that in many weeks, he will still post good numbers with what receivers he has. Some QBs don't need outstanding receivers to play well, and Brady is one of them. Deion Branch has missed time in the past with injuries, and David Givens was never dependable. So he has dealt with challenges at receiver before. In a league where passing TDs count for six points, though, I'd consider keeping Palmer more, but you still get a solid QB in return and a top-level RB. When Alexander returns, you can pair him with Barber and deal Brady and possibly Parker for an upgrade at QB if Brady does falter a bit. At the very least, I expect Brady to be respectable and he'll still have trade value down the line. I'd make the deal, because you end up with a great starting RB duo when Alexander returns, and Barber and Parker are a very formidable pair until then. You don't take a major hit at QB and can always use your RB depth to make a trade later on. <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width=8><SPACER width="8" type="block" height="1"></TD><TD width=300 bgColor=#ecece4>[FONT=Arial,Helvetica, sans-serif]The FFL Mailbag has the answers you need! Click here to send FFL questions and comments on players and trends and Scott may answer it in his next mailbag. [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Jeff Nicholson, Seymour, Ind.: A team in my league offered me an injured Shaun Alexander for Kevin Jones. I have already picked up Maurice Morris off free agency. Should I make the deal for Alexander while Kevin Jones' stock is somewhat high?
Engel: Jones' stock is never high, even in a league of 14 teams or larger. But it's at a respectable level right now, and any time you can get Alexander, especially at such a bargain price, you have to go for it. Alexander's injury isn't a season-ending one, and you're looking at a major upgrade in quality when Alexander returns. I'm not crazy about Morris, but I don't think Jones will outperform him by much, if at all, while the two are both starting. I'd definitely make the deal, but maintain good depth at the RB position otherwise, because you could get into a situation soon where Alexander might be a game-time decision and you won't know whether to start him or Morris. Acquiring another option who isn't a Seahawk RB is a good move in case you are not sure which one to start at some point.
Donny, San Mateo, Calif.: I have multiple players, including Tiki Barber and Plaxico Burress, on a bye. Which two do I start: from Frank Gore, Julius Jones and Laurence Maroney? I am leaning towards Gore and Jones due to the matchups, but with the way Willie Parker shredded Cincinnati's run defense, I am not so sure. Also, what are your thoughts on Reggie Williams?
Engel: I do like Jones this week, but you are very observant to note the tendencies of Cincinnati's defense. While the front seven is aggressive and the unit as a whole makes many big plays, there are also many times when the defenders overpursue or take questionable angles and miss tackles. Many RBs, especially speedier ones, are good starts against the Bengals. Maroney is a good combination of vision, quickness and strength who should present a lot of problems for the Bengals. Corey Dillon will no doubt be primed to face his former team, and some of that intensity should rub off on Maroney. So I would start Maroney over Jones. While Gore has an abdomen issue, he is expected to play and he's simply been better than Jones overall so far, even with his fumbling issues. I'd pencil in Gore and Maroney for now, but keep Jones ready in case Gore is downgraded. As for Williams, I think he is more reliable this year and is dropping the ball less and handling big hits better than he has done in the past. He's a good matchup-type starter right now, and I'd consider starting him against a vulnerable Washington secondary this week. Of course, that also depends on who your other options are, as Williams shouldn't be used over more established, higher-ranked wide receivers yet. I wouldn't use him over, say Darrell Jackson or Donald Driver.
Javier, Lodi, Calif.: I'm thinking about grabbing Eric Johnson off free agency. Should I drop Benjamin Watson, or Randy McMichael to get him? Both have been disappointing so far.
Engel: In the past, I have advised against carrying two tight ends, because many times you could just stick with one and pick up another just for one-week bye use. But even some of the best, such as McMichael, and guys with predicted upside like Watson and Ben Troupe haven't been dependable. So carrying two to play the matchups isn't a bad idea. But no tight end is going to give you outstanding production regularly, and Johnson is no exception. He's a good add, but Watson should still have a few good outings ahead, and I believe McMichael should improve. Johnson is not an upgrade over who you have right now, especially with only one good week of stats so far this year. I'd stick with who you have, but Johnson is a good add for other owners who don't have a Watson type or only have McMichael and need an alternative without dropping him outright.
Bill, Hartford, Conn.: I have Brian Westbrook and was thrilled by his monster day last week. However, I am very worried about his injury history. Which running backs could I go after in a one-for-one trade, or do you think I should hold onto him? Some of the RBs I would consider would be Tiki Barber, Warrick Dunn, Rudi Johnson, Larry Johnson or Willie Parker.
Engel: I think you should stop being overly concerned about Westbrook when he has proven two weeks in a row that being listed as questionable doesn't mean the same thing for him that it does for other players. For further peace of mind, just do whatever it takes to make sure you have Correll Buckhalter on your roster as insurance. Some other owners might have the same concerns as you, and it would be difficult to get Barber, Rudi or Larry Johnson in a straight-up trade. That deal helps only you and you would at least have to throw in another decent player to get another owner to consider it. Dunn is a bit of a downgrade and Parker's value is high right now. He also might be difficult to acquire in a one-for-one and he should be less consistent than Westbrook if Westbrook continues to play regularly.
Paul Grahn, Santa Rosa, Calif.: I have Donovan McNabb as my QB and L.J. Smith and Chris Cooley as my TEs. I am surprised at Smith's performances, but think that Cooley should start producing soon. When should make the switch to Cooley, if I should at all? Engel: I'm not surprised at all by what a healthy Smith can do, as he does have the pure talent to be one of the best tight ends in fantasy football. He has continued to improve, as he is becoming more of a frequent regular target, whereas he just seemed to be a goal-line guy and occasional target on key downs earlier in his career. Cooley is good to keep on your roster in case his production does improve, but he certainly hasn't earned the right to start over Smith this season. It will take a slump by Smith and more than one good performance in consecutive games from Cooley to recommend a switch
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Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Re: NFL Fantasy Football News/Articles - ESPN Insider 5 New Articles Added 9/27/06)

Thursday, September 28, 2006

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Injury Decisions

By Scott Engel
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>Every Wednesday, many fantasy players start sweating. And they don't stop until sometime on Sunday, or even the following Tuesday, as they often second-guess their decisions. The worries always begin when the NFL's official injury report is released to the public.
If one of your top players is listed as doubtful, he has only a 25 percent chance of playing, so you know you shouldn't use him. Most players who are listed as probable are safe starts, as they officially have a 75 percent chance of playing, even though in many cases it's even better than that. If a guy is listed as probable, there is no real reason to consider benching him.
But what about those guys who are listed as questionable (50 percent chance of playing) or game-time decisions? Those are the ones who drive us crazy until game time on Sunday. Should we start them, and risk getting little or no production at all? Or could our bold move actually reap some rewards? Owners who took the gamble and started Steve Smith, Brian Westbrook or Ahman Green last week are looking smart right now. But I'll venture to say that in most instances, I wouldn't have started any of those guys. When players like that perform well, it simply validates that they should be fine to use the following week. As long as I have a solid backup, I'm not going to risk my fantasy game on a player who could miss a game or give me limited production.
Westbrook might be the one major exception to the rule, because he has clearly proved he can play at a high level while working through his current injury concerns. But when you are in doubt, you should always play the healthy player over the injured guy who is listed as questionable or could be a game-time decision. When you start the healthy player, especially if the two you are deciding between are close in value, you'll have complete peace of mind that there is no risk of your starting choice producing poor totals, sitting out for a good portion of the game, or at worst, sitting on the sidelines and giving you a complete zero. If your injury concern does play and fares well, don't kick yourself. You can just start him with added confidence the following week, and after a good performance, the player shouldn't be as much of a risk the following week.
This week, Reuben Droughns and Donte' Stallworth are among the players listed as questionable, and I'm not going to use either of them unless I'm absolutely desperate or if they are upgraded before game time. I'd rather use another player of equal or lesser value, such as Julius Jones or Bernard Berrian.
This is my decision-making process on players who are questionable and have a clear chance of missing a game. Of course, not everything in fantasy football is absolute, and there are a few exceptions. Each player is an individual case. But when in doubt, always go with the healthy guy. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Another issue that often comes into play when dealing with injured players is whether to start their immediate backup or not. Last week, Correll Buckhalter and Vernand Morency were popular pickups when fantasy players were thinking Westbrook or Green might sit out. Again, whether to use the player in question depends on the individual situation. But I always go the conservative route, because unless I know a player is going to start for sure or will get a healthy amount of carries, I'm not going to use him. You might have added 49ers running back Michael Robinson this week, because Frank Gore has an abdomen injury, and could also lose goal-line carries to Robinson, who scored twice on short runs last week. But I'm not about to start Robinson over a more proven player just because Gore is listed as questionable. Most reports have indicated Gore will play this week against the Chiefs, and Robinson has to show me a lot more before I start him over say, Kevin Jones or Fred Taylor, who will very likely get more touches than Robinson. When dealing with injury-related decisions or making a tough call at a flex position, I always go with the player whom I expect to get more touches. I'd always take Kevin Jones over Lee Evans at a flex position because Jones will likely get more touches. It often makes sense to pick up the backup of a player who is a risk to possibly miss a game during the upcoming week. But you shouldn't actually use that player unless it's clear he is going to get a healthy workload. If you gambled with Buckhalter or Morency last week, it turned out to be a bad move. And adding wide receivers who get pushed into a starting role because of an injury can be a good move, but wait until they actually show something before you start them. Many of us, including myself, picked up Drew Carter when Steve Smith was out. I thought Carter had some upside, but it became apparent he only fits well on the Panthers as a third receiver, and he can't produce good fantasy numbers in an expanded role. Many players, especially at receiver, don't perform well just because they are given a chance to play more regularly.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Antonio Bryant, WR, 49ers
Four receptions, 26 yards, 0 TD
After a hot start, Bryant came crashing back to earth last week against the Eagles. His disappointing performance was a bit surprising when you consider that Philadelphia's secondary was depleted by injuries. Bryant has always wanted an opportunity to be a No. 1 wide receiver, and now he has his chance to fulfill that hope with the 49ers, which remain thin on talent at the wide receiver position. Bryant gets upset when he doesn't get the ball, and there could be more frustration in his future. After he had two 100-yard games to open the season, opposing defenses are now much more wary of Bryant and he's going to draw more defensive attention. With Vernon Davis injured, and Arnaz Battle and Bryan Gilmore not major threats at the other wide receiver spots, tight end Eric Johnson is a good pass-catcher, but no gamebreaker. The Niners have proved they can pass the ball effectively, with Bryant as the featured target. Bryant's performance against Kansas City this week could be very telling. Even though the Chiefs look like a friendly matchup on paper, Bryant is going to suddenly look like a much less viable fantasy starter if he doesn't rebound with a good outing.
</TD><TD width=15><SPACER width="15" type="block" height="1"></TD><TD class=rightcell vAlign=top width=195>TOP LINES
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 3</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Jon Kitna, QB, Lions: Don't let one good statistical outing against a bad Packers defense fool you.</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>342</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>18</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>22</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Steven Jackson, RB, Rams: No TDs in first three games. Time to trade for him.</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>24</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>62</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>59</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>11</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Keyshawn Johnson, WR, Panthers: Facing a former team (TB) is often a motivational tool for some players.</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>7</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>97</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>21</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Will Heller, TE, Seahawks: Scored vs. NYG, but who didn't? Not worth adding.</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>28</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>3</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



Surfin' the Scoreboard

Trainer's Room
? There were some rumblings that Shaun Alexander was going to try to play this week against the Bears, but tests showed there is still a crack in his foot. Maurice Morris will start as expected on Sunday night, and there are still no indications Alexander will return in the short term.
? Jets WR Laveranues Coles (calf) missed practice on Wednesday and is listed as questionable. Coles was able to play through the injury at Buffalo this past Sunday.
? Titans RB Chris Brown (toe) says he is ready to play this week, according to the Nashville Tennessean. But Brown is certainly a risky play, as are Travis Henry and LenDale White, who should only be used if you are desperate.
? Todd Heap (ankle) is again listed as questionable. He reportedly missed some practice on Wednesday, so it appears too early to panic, especially when he was able to play last week.
? Keenan McCardell (hamstring) is listed as questionable. He missed practice on Tuesday, but Marty Schottenheimer told the San Diego Union-Tribune that McCardell could have played if it was game day. ? Wednesday Box | Tuesday Box | Karabell's Blog




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Hache Man · Sep 28, 2006